Calls for Action and Investigations
(Lanka-e-News -06.Jan.2024, 10.30 PM) In a startling revelation, Sri Lanka's Ex-Finance Minister and dual US-Sri Lankan citizen, Basil Rajapakse, admitted to purchasing weapons from North Korea using funds sourced from the black market during the height of the civil war. This admission raises serious legal and diplomatic concerns, as U.S. citizens, regardless of their location, are bound by OFAC regulations, and engaging in arms deals with North Korea is strictly prohibited.
Basil Rajapaksha disclosed in an interview with the local Sunday newspaper, 'The Sunday Divayina,' that Sri Lanka resorted to acquiring weapons from North Korea using money obtained from the black market. This admission not only unveils a dark chapter in Sri Lanka's history but also implicates Rajapaksha in activities that violate international norms and U.S. regulations.
Rajapaksha went further to acknowledge that, during the same period, Sri Lanka obtained black market dollars to pay for fuel shipments necessary for the war effort. The Ex-Finance Minister recounted how he, along with other officials, engaged with traders in Colombo's 'Pettah' Business District to secure dollars through the black market.
“We used to call upon Pettah traders... that is how we paid the Petroleum Corporation for fuel,” he revealed.
Basil Rajapaksha's admission places him in direct violation of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations. U.S. citizens, including dual citizens, are obligated to comply with these regulations, prohibiting any involvement in purchasing weapons from North Korea for any third country. The seriousness of these offenses is underscored by Executive Order 13722, implementing U.S. obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2270 and the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016.
Under these regulations, criminal offenders, if found guilty, may face substantial fines ranging from several hundred thousand dollars to several million dollars, coupled with the possibility of serving up to 30 years in prison.
Several activists are demanding the U.S. State Department to take immediate action against Basil Rajapaksha. A Republican Presidential contender previously raised this issue in a rally, intensifying the pressure for an FBI investigation into Rajapaksha's involvement in the arms deal with North Korea during the conflict period up to 2009.
The seriousness of these allegations has ignited a call for a thorough investigation into Sri Lanka's connections with North Korea during the civil war. This not only places Basil Rajapaksha under scrutiny but also raises questions about the broader geopolitical implications of such transactions and the accountability of those involved
As the revelations unfold, Basil Rajapaksha finds himself entangled in a web of legal consequences and international scrutiny. The gravity of his admission, coupled with the demands for investigations and potential legal actions, underscores the need for a transparent and comprehensive inquiry into Sri Lanka's dealings with North Korea during a period of conflict and instability. The unfolding developments will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of both Basil Rajapaksha's political career and the diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the United States.
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by (2024-01-06 17:05:54)
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