An irate Jayatilleke has fired a missive to Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga after receiving a fax from a senior official on behalf of Foreign Secretary Karunathilake Amunugama demanding an explanation with regard to the chancery building being cleaned and painted urgently before the arrival of External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris for an official visit.
The ministry has threatened Jayatilleke with action in line with the Penal Code of Sri Lanka. The ministry went to the extent of alleging Jayatilleke of gross violation and disregard of regulations governing his appointment and conduct of an Ambassador for giving the go ahead for a face-lift before the conclusion of all formalities.
Well informed sources told The Island that Jayatilleke had informed Secretary to the President that he hadn’t been involved in the transaction as he was busy in securing appointments for Prof. Peiris with the French Foreign Minister, Advisor to President Sarkozy and other officials.
In spite of the embassy responding to a spate of previous allegations with regard to ‘administrative irregularities’ at the mission, the ministry had raised the issue again on the basis that it was the responsibility on the part of Jayatilleke to supervise.
The Island learns that Jayatilleke has alleged that this could be an attempt to sabotage his mission and also cause a rift between him and the government ahead of forthcoming legislative polls in France, which may lead to transfer of power to the Socialist party at either executive or legislative levels, thereby paving the way for the sections of Tamil Diaspora to exploit the situation.
Jayatilleke has also speculated on the possibility of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga taking advantage of the new political landscape to undermine the GoSL.
Sources said that the Presidential Secretary had been asked to intervene immediately.
IS