Ambassador claims he was not involved in Defense Attache's recall

Colombo (News1st): The Sunday Times reported today (October 07) that Air Force Group Captain Channa Dissanayake, Sri Lanka’s defence attache in Moscow, has been recalled to Colombo based on an official complaint by Sri Lanka's new Ambassador in Moscow Dr. Dayan Jayetilleka. According to the newspaper report, the ambassador had allegedly complained that the Group Captain had“partitioned” the embassy premises calling it the “Defence Section” leaving other areas in the diplomatic mission outside it.  the report further notes that Dr Jayetilleka contended that he could not be the head of only one part of the Sri Lanka Embassy. The report adds that the new ambassador had alleged that the defence attache had imported a vehicle for his use in Moscow at a cost of US$ 80,000 and that the payment had been authorized by Air Force Commander Kapila Jayampathi. The Sunday Times also notes that the Air Force commander was informed of the actions of the Defence Attache, while he was in Moscow recently. The report also claimed that the ambassador had sent a report to the Foreign Ministry which in turn went to the Defence Ministry. Accordingly, both ministries had concurred that the defence attache, a pilot and the son of a SLAF high ranker, should be asked to return immediately. AMBASSADOR REACTS The new Sri Lanka Ambassador to Russia Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka has denied making any official complaint about any staffer at the Sri Lankan mission in Moscow. The Ambassador, responding to a query posed by News 1st over the article, said he had not sent anything in writing to either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Defense on any staffer or matter. The Ambassador noted while he did make some verbal remarks, partly humorous, which were critical observations, the remarks have been taken out of context and embellished or spun. Ambassador Jayatilleka stressed the headline of the newspaper story "Defence Attache recalled from Moscow after Dayan's Protest" is false. The Ambassador added that he did not tell anyone that he "could not be the head of only one part of the Embassy". Ambassador Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka went on to note the newspaper should have checked the story with him, which it did not.