Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, who has been accused of selling weapons to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, has had his diplomatic passport withdrawn, reports ColomboPage.
Mr Weeratunga, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, was accused of playing a key role in supplying the separatists with weapons, including assault rifles and other small arms during his tenure.
The Ukrainian government had lodged a complaint with the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry in Colombo, reported the Sunday Times, with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera pledging “a full investigation into this matter”.
The former ambassador was reportedly instrumental in obtaining weapons for the Sri Lankan government during his 9 year tenure, including the acquisition of MiG-27 ground attack aircraft for Sri Lanka’s air force.