The Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar, A.S.P. Liyanage was seen welcoming the two sons of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Rohitha Rajapaksa, when they arrived in the country for a friendly Rugby match. Liyanage was seen welcoming them and carrying their bags when the CH Rugby team.
Unsurprisingly this is not in line with the diplomatic protocol as a standing Ambassador, the highest representative in a foriegn country from Sri Lanka. The Rajapaksa sons do not hold any positions in the government.
Liyanage, a billionaire businessman, claims to be a close friend of the Rajapaksa family. After the former President fell out of power in January 2015, he even offered his Colombo house, the Peacock Mansion, to the Rajapaksa family.
President Maithripala Sirisena appointed him the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar raising many an eyebrow, despite his questionable links with the Rajapaksa family.
Liyanage’s appointment recently came under fire in Parliament with some Parliamentarians calling him a “mad man” who was ruining Sri Lanka’s image overseas.
Categories: Local News, Odd One
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