Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong made a rare public appearance on June 24, visiting Angulugaha Maha Vidyalaya in Galle alongside Sarvajana Balaya leader and MP Dilith Jayaweera. The visit, which included the Ambassador’s wife and a donation programme funded by the Chinese Embassy, surprised political circles in Colombo given the Ambassador’s limited public engagements in recent months.
The school holds deep personal significance for Jayaweera, it is where his mother, Dharma Jayaweera, taught for 30 years. Ambassador Qi made an emotional tribute to the school and offered glowing praise for Jayaweera. Speaking at the event, Qi reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and China, while Jayaweera thanked China for its consistent support.
The visit comes amid strong political rumours that the Anura Kumara Dissanayake administration is pursuing legal action against Jayaweera. The Securities and Exchange Commission, under Chairman Prof. Hareendra Dissabandara, has reopened an over decade-old case involving an alleged stock market pump-and-dump scheme against Jayaweera. His statement was recorded on May 12, and investigations focus on alleged irregularities at the Colombo Stock Exchange between 2010 and 2015. A separate CID investigation into six individuals, including Jayaweera, on contempt of court allegations is scheduled for a progress report on July 1.
Inside sources indicate Jayaweera’s lawyers are preparing a strong defence based on statute of limitations and evidence, and his legal team preparing to question the SEC Chairman’s integrity and selective bias.
In recent weeks growing public discourse has questioned the SEC’ Chairman’s conduct, particularly regarding the Rs. 13.2 billion NDB Bank fraud and the JXG IPO.
— LNW —