Rohitha Bogollagama was appointed as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Since his appointment, multiple reports have surfaced alleging incidents that tarnish both the reputation and diplomatic standing of Sri Lanka.
A particularly controversial incident involved Gayathri Kemadasa, the daughter of the esteemed late Dr. Premasiri Kemadasa, a legendary figure in Sri Lankan music. The event took place on May 12, 2024, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in England, where a prominent university had organized a musical concert. Gayathri Kemadasa was invited to represent Sri Lanka, and the concert, set to run from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, attracted nearly 500 attendees, including British Parliament members, ministers, Lords, engineers, doctors, and other distinguished guests.
Bogollagama had been invited as the chief guest, with a significant campaign built around his attendance. He was scheduled to deliver a special address at the event. However, he abruptly announced his non-attendance at the last moment, causing considerable embarrassment for the organizers and Gayathri Kemadasa. The unexpected absence of the chief guest at an event representing Sri Lanka left many questioning the conduct of its diplomatic officials.
By not attending, Bogollagama missed an important opportunity to represent Sri Lanka in front of prominent British figures, potentially diminishing the country’s reputation. Gayathri, who had traveled to England to honor her father’s legacy and bring recognition to Sri Lanka, found herself in an uncomfortable position as she faced inquiries from the concert’s organizing committee about the absence of the High Commissioner.
The organizing committee had reportedly contacted Bogollagama multiple times since March 27, 2024, through emails, WhatsApp messages, and phone calls, each time receiving assurances of his attendance. Despite these confirmations, he did not respond to calls from the organizers on the day of the event. Attempts to reach the British Deputy High Commissioner, Manori Mallikarachchi, also proved unsuccessful, as she declined to participate, citing various reasons.
When Gayathri Khemadasa realized the High Commissioner would not attend, she reached out to Minister Bandula Gunawardena, requesting his intervention. She also spoke to former Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, among others, but these efforts were in vain. Finally, Gunawardena directly contacted Bogollagama, urging him to attend. Bogollagama reportedly claimed he was unaware of the event, despite multiple notifications to his office.
Allegations of financial misconduct and corruption have plagued Bogollagama, both before and after his appointment. Notably, he was accused of misappropriating state funds during his previous roles. Reports have surfaced alleging that, while chairman of a major bank in Sri Lanka, he initiated a business in Britain with the wife of Rohan Fernando, resulting in substantial financial fraud, with related cases reportedly filed in Britain.
This series of allegations against Rohitha Bogollagama raises serious concerns about his suitability for the role of High Commissioner, with calls for accountability regarding these alleged misconducts.
