:Jaliya Wickramasuriya

Wickramasuriya was born in Matara to an aristocratic family.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=glUwAQAAIAAJ&q=Kataragama+|title= The Chieftains of Ceylon|date=1994|publisher=Navrang|author=J. C. Van Sanden|page=14|isbn= 9788170131243}}{{cite web|url=http://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/gen3164.html|title=Wickremasuriya Family of Kathaluwa|date=2009-06-03|publisher= Sri Lanka Sinhalese Family Genealogy|accessdate=2020-07-31}} He is a son of Pema and Kamala Wickramasuriya née Rajapaksa, daughter of D. M. Rajapaksa and a first cousin of Mahinda Rajapaksa who served as President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015. Colonel Prasanna Wickramasuriya is his younger brother and brother-in-law of Colonel A. F. Lafir. He was educated at Nalanda College, Colombo.

He started his career in the tea industry, working at Dilmah. He went on to become the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ceylon Royal Teas (Pvt) Ltd and was based in the United States exporting tea from Sri Lanka to the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.island.lk/2006/08/18/business7.html|title=The Island - Business|publisher=|accessdate=21 September 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060716/ft/ftp8.3.html|title=Financial Times|publisher=|accessdate=21 September 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.businesstoday.lk/cover_page.php?article=829&issue=198|title=BUSINESS TODAY -The new Voice of Sri Lanka in Washington DC|first=Business|last=Today|publisher=|accessdate=21 September 2016|archive-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921105705/http://www.businesstoday.lk/cover_page.php?article=829&issue=198|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.lk/2008/07/13/newsfe1.htm|title=News Features|publisher=|accessdate=21 September 2016}}

Following his cousin's election as President of Sri Lanka, Wickramasuirya was appointed Consul General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles, California in 2005 and held the appointment till 2008.{{cite web|url=http://slembassyusa.org/embassy_press_releases/ambassador-jaliya-wickramasuriya-assumes-duties-in-washington-dc/|title=AMBASSADOR JALIYA WICKRAMASURIYA ASSUMES DUTIES IN WASHINGTON DC - Embassy of Sri Lanka – Washington DC USA|publisher=|accessdate=21 September 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.island.lk/2007/06/09/business2.html|title=The Island - Business|publisher=|accessdate=21 September 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://slembassyusa.org/embassy_press_releases/sri-lankas-ambassador-to-the-u-s-hosts-official-reception-to-celebrate-the-2010-sinhala-tamil-new-year/|title=SRI LANKA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. HOSTS OFFICIAL RECEPTION TO CELEBRATE THE 2010 SINHALA-TAMIL NEW YEAR - Embassy of Sri Lanka – Washington DC USA|publisher=|accessdate=21 September 2016}} In August 2008, he was appointed by President Rajapaksa as Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the United States and Mexico. During his tenure, he was investigated by the IRS on tax evasion and the US government requested the government of Sri Lanka recall Wickramasuirya. As a result, Wickramasuirya was recalled to Sri Lanka in July 2014 and was replaced by Asela Weerakoon on a temporarily basis until Prasad Kariyawasam was appointed as the permanent ambassador.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Twists-and-turns-in-the-Jaliya-Wickramasuriya-case-146630.html?fbrefresh=refresh|title=Twists and turns in the Jaliya Wickramasuriya case|website=www.dailymirror.lk}}

The Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) arrested him on 17 November 2016, after he tried to flee the country from Katunayake Airport, and was a suspect of allegedly accepting a USD $332,000 commission while serving as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States.{{Cite web|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/37892/jaliya-wickramasuriya-arrested-by-fcid|title = Jaliya Wickramasuriya arrested by FCID}} He was remanded by the courts on the same day. It is alleged that the money was used to purchase a house in the United States for his daughter, Sarindee.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Jaliya-Wickramasuriya-re-remanded-122851.html?fbrefresh=1548884944|title=Jaliya Wickramasuriya re-remanded|website=www.dailymirror.lk}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2014/01/jaliya-wickramasuriya-is-corrupt-says.html|title=Jaliya Wickramasuriya is corrupt, says Canada}}

An open warrant was issued in January 2018 in Colombo for his arrest in connection with those charges.{{cite web |url= http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/01/05/law-order/139064/court-issues-open-warrant-against-jaliya-wickramasuriya |title= Court issues open warrant against Jaliya Wickramasuriya |author= Lakmal Sooriyagoda |date=5 January 2018 |work= The Sunday Times |accessdate=5 January 2018 }}{{cite web |url= http://www.asiantribune.com/node/91452 |title= Open warrant issued to arrest former US ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya |author= asiantribune.com |date=6 January 2018 |work= Asian Tribune |accessdate=6 January 2018 }} He was allowed by Courts to travel for medical treatments, but later it was reported that he was missing and subsequently the court issued an open warrant.{{Cite web|url=http://digathanews.com/court-issues-open-warrant-to-arrest-jaliya/|title=Court issues open warrant to arrest Jaliya}}

In April 2022, he pleaded guilty. According to Special Agent in Charge Ray Villanueva of HSI Washington, D.C., “Mr. Wickramasuriya attempted to use his position of authority to defraud his own government and steal from the people he represented. He did not expect the American authorities to get involved and call on HSI Washington, D.C. to investigate. Today he begins the process of paying for his crimes.”

The United States Department of Justice has moved to indict Wickremesuriya on money laundering charges, following an investigation by the FBI and indictment by grand jury. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has waived the diplomatic immunity granted Wickramasuriya during his tenure as the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington. Wickremesuriya challenged the removal of immunity by way of a writ petition in Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka, which was dismissed by the court on 29 March 2018. He then filed a fundamental rights case in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180527/news/us-to-indict-lankas-former-ambassador-296135.html|title=US to indict Lanka's former ambassador | date= May 2018 | work = The Sunday Times Sri Lanka}}{{pb}}{{Cite web|title=Jaliya's confession and Gota's failed attempts to protect him - Expose | work= Sri Lanka Daily Mirror|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/expose/Jaliyas-confession-and-Gotas-failed-attempts-to-protect-him/333-241038|access-date=2022-11-16|author= Nirmala Kannangara | date= 14 July 2022}}

• List of Sri Lankan non-career diplomats
• Heads of missions from Sri Lanka

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• [http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20080727/Issues.htm The Sunday Leader] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318152143/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20080727/Issues.htm |date=18 March 2016 }}
• [https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/rajapaksas-cousin-jaliya-caught-in-the-act-ordered-to-pay-back/ Colombo Telegraph]
• [http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/10981 Asian Tribune]
• [http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2014/01/jaliya-wickramasuriya-is-corrupt-says.html Sri Lankan Guardian]
• [http://www.asiantribune.com/node/12468 Asian Tribune]
• [http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/12197 Asian Tribune]
• [http://www.asiantribune.com/node/4860 Asian Tribune]
• [http://asiantribune.com/node/8784 Asian Tribune]
• [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2013/01/13/fea01.asp Sunday Observer]
• [http://www.island.lk/2006/08/18/business7.html The Island]
• [http://www.businesstoday.lk/cover_page.php?article=829&issue=198 Business Today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921105705/http://www.businesstoday.lk/cover_page.php?article=829&issue=198 |date=21 September 2016 }}
• [http://archive.lankanewsweb.net/exclusive/5882-corruption-of-tea-trader-jaliya-wickramasuriya-has-been-rewarded-by-mahinda-rajapaksha Lanka News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510100409/http://archive.lankanewsweb.net/exclusive/5882-corruption-of-tea-trader-jaliya-wickramasuriya-has-been-rewarded-by-mahinda-rajapaksha |date=10 May 2017 }}
• [http://www.ajc.com/news/business/i-needed-something-different-to-sell-my-tea/nQqcN/ Atlanta Journal Constitution]
• [http://www.dailymirror.lk/17277/show-solidarity-jaliya-tells-us-lankans Daily Mirror] (short article)
• [http://www.asiantribune.com/node/12287 Asian Tribune]
• [http://www.luxner.com/cgi-bin/view_article.cgi?articleID=1757 Luxner News]
• [http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=62694 The Island]
• [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2013/01/13/fea01.asp Development programs bolster Lanka’s image in the US - Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya]
• [http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/12287 Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya meets US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte]
• [http://archives.dailynews.lk/2013/04/23/news54.asp Arts promote unity - Ambassador]
• [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2012/01/22/fea06.asp Lankan Missions overseas celebrate Thai Pongal]
• [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2006/07/16/mon07.asp Ceylon Royal Teas awarded quality certificates]

{{div col end}}

• [https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/former-sri-lankan-ambassador-pleads-guilty-defrauding-sri-lankan-government/ Jaliya Wickramasuriya Pleads Guilty Defrauding Sri Lankan Poor People Money]
• [http://slembassyusa.org/embassy_press_releases/religious-ceremony-to-welcome-ambassador-designate-jaliya-wickramasuriya/ RELIGIOUS CEREMONY TO WELCOME AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE JALIYA WICKRAMASURIYA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914125737/http://slembassyusa.org/embassy_press_releases/religious-ceremony-to-welcome-ambassador-designate-jaliya-wickramasuriya/ |date=14 September 2016 }}
• [http://slembassyusa.org/embassy_press_releases/a-taste-of-sri-lanka-sri-lankan-ambassador-hosts-meridien-embassy-chefs-series/ A TASTE OF SRI LANKA SRI LANKAN AMBASSADOR HOSTS MERIDIEN EMBASSY CHEFS SERIES] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914123657/http://slembassyusa.org/embassy_press_releases/a-taste-of-sri-lanka-sri-lankan-ambassador-hosts-meridien-embassy-chefs-series/ |date=14 September 2016 }}
• [http://www.washdiplomat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6331:-resplendent-lady-&catid=973:january-2009&Itemid=249 Resplendent Lady - From Colombo to California, Going Extra Mile to Tell Sri Lanka's Story]
• [http://slembassyusa.org/embassy_press_releases/ambassador-jaliya-wickramasuriya-presents-credentials-to-president-george-w-bush/ AMBASSADOR JALIYA WICKRAMASURIYA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914122940/http://slembassyusa.org/embassy_press_releases/ambassador-jaliya-wickramasuriya-presents-credentials-to-president-george-w-bush/ |date=14 September 2016 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wickramasuriya, Jaliya}}

Category:Sinhalese people

Category:Sri Lankan businesspeople

Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists

Category:Alumni of Nalanda College, Colombo

Category:Ambassadors of Sri Lanka to the United States

Category:Ambassadors of Sri Lanka to Mexico

Category:Living people

Category:1960 births

Category:Rajapaksa family