Travellers with forged visas implicate deputy airport chief

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has begun a probe into an incident where Shalitha Wijesundera, Deputy Chairman of Airports and Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, is said to have tried to facilitate the exit of two Sri Lankans on forged visas to the United Kingdom.

Deputy Chairman of Airports and Aviation Authority of Sri Lankam, Mr.Shalitha Wijesundera

The matter came to light when airport authorities detained two Tamil nationals after a British official, assigned to the airport to ascertain the authenticity of visas to UK of passengers leaving the airport, discovered that the visas they held had been forged.

The incident had taken place on Wednesday. It is alleged that Mr. Wijesundera had escorted the passengers, Balasubramaniam Prasannan, 20, and Ulaganthirajah Manimalar, 22, to the boarding gate.

He had earlier had them cleared at the Immigration desk. SriLankan Airlines officials and the British official had examined the passports. It is only then that the detection had been made. The two men are held for questioning. Upon being questioned, they had alleged that Mr. Wijesundera was paid two hundred Sterling Pounds (about Rs. 52,000) for the help he rendered.

They have also alleged that Mr. Wijesundera took them to the Lotus Lounge to wait until the departure of the flight was announced.
Mr. Wijesundera declined to comment when asked by The Sunday Times.

He said he did not wish to make any comments at this moment since an investigation into the matter was already under way, except to say the allegations against him were false. Government sources told The Sunday Times that Mr. Wijesundera is to be called upon to tender his resignation.