The diplomat who allegedly returned to the country with some of the personal belongings of the landlord in Japan where he served will face a Foreign Ministry inquiry tomorrow, an official said.
The diplomat, a political appointee, has also been told to give a written explanation at the inquiry to be conducted by the Ministry’s Overseas Administration Director A.W. Pathiraja. The Sunday Times last week reported the Japanese landlord had complained to the Foreign Ministry that the diplomat had stolen some of his personal belongings and shipped them to Sri Lanka. He alleged they included an expensive painting and an antique wall clock.
The landlord said he was withholding the rental advance paid by the government until the items were returned to him.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said he had asked for a report from Sri Lanka’s embassy in Tokyo.
He said stern action would be taken if the diplomat was found guilty. “We will also see whether we could try him under the Penal Code. Such acts only bring disrepute to our foreign service and we will not tolerate them. I will maintain the highest level of integrity when it comes to our diplomats,” Mr. Bogollagama said.
The minister said he had received a letter from the landlord, saying he had gifted a piano, a bed and a table to the diplomat. However, the landlord claimed the expensive wall painting, the antique clock and several other items had gone missing.
The Minister declined to name the diplomat concerned. But the Sunday Times learns he is a member of the SLFP Lawyers Association and had earlier been a policeman. He was appointed to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tokyo in mid 2007 and had served as the Minister Consular till his contract expired in September last year.
A spokesperson for the Japanese Embassy in Colombo said that it was a matter for the Sri Lankan government to look into. |
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