The United States Embassy in Sri Lanka released a statement dismissing claims by a Sri Lankan government minister that he was offered a bribe by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele J Sison.
Sri Lanka's Rehabilitation Minister Gunaratne Weerakoon claimed the US Embassy in Colombo were offering bribes and were “pumping money” into defeating incumbent Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming presidential polls.
"My two children were offered US scholarships, green cards and a house to live in America," alleged the minister, saying the international community led by the US and other foreign embassies in Colombo, was conspiring against Rajapaksa.
The United States though, dismissed the minister's "baseless" claims, releasing a statement saying,
Sri Lanka's Rehabilitation Minister Gunaratne Weerakoon claimed the US Embassy in Colombo were offering bribes and were “pumping money” into defeating incumbent Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming presidential polls.
"My two children were offered US scholarships, green cards and a house to live in America," alleged the minister, saying the international community led by the US and other foreign embassies in Colombo, was conspiring against Rajapaksa.
The United States though, dismissed the minister's "baseless" claims, releasing a statement saying,
“They reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of our engagement with senior government officials and our policy towards Sri Lanka as well as the US political and economic system.”