Rohitha Bogollagama
Rohitha Bogollagama | |
|---|---|
 Rohitha Bogollagama at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2007 | |
| Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom | |
| In office 20 November 2023 – 2 November 2024[1] | |
| President | Ranil Wickremesinghe Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
| Preceded by | Saroja Sirisena |
| Succeeded by | Nimal Senadheera |
| Governor of Eastern Province | |
| In office 4 July 2017 – 31 December 2018 | |
| President | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Preceded by | Austin Fernando |
| Succeeded by | M. L. A. M. Hizbullah |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 28 January 2007 – 23 April 2010 | |
| President | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Prime Minister | Ratnasiri Wickremanayake |
| Preceded by | Mangala Samaraweera |
| Succeeded by | G. L. Peiris |
| Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion | |
| In office 23 November 2005 – 28 January 2007 | |
| President | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Prime Minister | Ratnasiri Wickremanayake |
| Succeeded by | Sarath Amunugama |
| Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise | |
| In office 18 November 2004 – 23 November 2005 | |
| President | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
| Prime Minister | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Minister of Industries of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 12 December 2001 – 12 February 2004 | |
| President | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
| Prime Minister | Ranil Wickremesinghe |
| Succeeded by | Anura Bandaranaike |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 August 1954 Nikaweratiya, North Western Province, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality |  Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Sri Lanka Freedom Party (2004 – Present) United National Party (2000 – 2004) |
| Spouse(s) | Deepthi Bogollagama (née Samarakone) |
| Children | Dhakshitha, Dilshani |
| Residence(s) | 40 / 13, Longdon Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka |
| Alma mater | Ananda College, Colombo Sri Lanka Law College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Chandrasekera Rohitha Bandara Bogollagama (born 6 August 1954) (known as Rohitha Bogollagama) (Sinhala: රෝහිත බෝගොල්ලාගම, Tamil: ரோகித போகோல்லாகம) is a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. He is a former Governor of Eastern Province, having earlier served as the Cabinet Minister of Foreign Affairs from 28 January 2007 until he was defeated in the General Elections held on 8 April 2010, losing his seat in parliament.[2][3]
He had a long career in law, from 1976 to 1999, before being elected to the Sri Lankan parliament in 2000 from the United National Party, and then crossed over to Sri Lanka Freedom Party, serving as the chief organiser for the Kotte Electorate.[4]
As of 2025, Bogollagama was indicted in Sri Lanka on corruption charges related to his tenure as Investment Promotion Minister.
Early life
[edit]Born in Nikaweratiya, North Western Province, to Chandrasekera Malala Banda Bogollagama (former Chairman, National Lotteries Board from 1966 to 1970) and Vinitha Bogollagama (née Senerath),[5] he is one of their five children.[6] Bogollagama attended Ananda College in Colombo and later the Sri Lanka Law College, passing out in 1976. He was called to the Bar and enrolled as Attorney-at-Law by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in October 1976.
Legal career
[edit]Bogollagama's career in law ran for nearly thirty years, and included serving as legal consultant to the Ceylon Fertiliser Corporation from 1985 to 1993, and legal advisor to the United States government-run Voice of America from 1991 to 1999. He was also Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cement Corporation and Chairman and Director General of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.
Political career
[edit]As a member of the United National Party, Bogollagama was elected to parliament in 2000 for Kurunegala District, and served the Parliamentary Consultative Committees on Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Industrial Development & Investment Promotion, and Power & Energy. On 12 December 2001, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed him Minister of Industries.[7] As minister he initiated the "Yuga Dekma", a large industrial fair, in 2002. In 2004 president Chandrika Kumaratunga dissolved parliament and removed non-cabinet ministers on 12 February.
While in opposition in 2004, he was appointed by a unanimous decision to serve as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), an oversight committee of parliament responsible for accountability of public enterprises.[8]
Bogollagama switched political allegiance on 18 November 2004, siding with the United People's Freedom Alliance; the President swore him in as the Cabinet Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development on the same day.[9]
He became the Minister of Enterprise and Development on 23 November 2005.[10] As Minister, he argued in favour of returning Sri Lanka to GMT +05:30 time, which was the official time before 1996.[11] He represented the government of Sri Lanka at two rounds of peace talks with the LTTE at Geneva in 2006.[3]
He was defeated in the general election held on 8 April 2010, losing his seat in parliament and was not reappointed to cabinet.
He was appointed Governor of Eastern Province by President Maithripala Sirisena in July 2017 and served till 2018.
Later life
[edit]He was appointed as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner-designate to the UK by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in October 2023.[12] Bogollagama attended the 2023 UN peacekeeping ministerial meeting in Accra, Ghana in December 2023 as the special representative of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. His entourage which included his wife, a military aid, his use of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Ethiopia and other spending has drawn criticism in the Sri Lankan press given that he is spending taxpayer money during a time when Sri Lanka is in its worst economic crisis.[13]
Corruption charges
[edit]In October 2024, a probe was launched into Bogollagama and his claimed expenses as High Commissioner to the UK.[14] In April 2025, Bogollagama reportedly became the subject of British criminal investigations over allegation during the civil war, immigration fraud, and financial misconduct. Complaints from human rights groups link him to civilian deaths during Sri Lanka’s civil war and to irregularities involving a 2019 unauthorized jet landing. His diplomatic immunity expired in 2022, and UK authorities are examining possible violations of immigration and tax laws, as well as undisclosed legal issues involving his family.[15]
In August 2025, the Colombo High Court ruled that Bogollagama will be tried in absentia on corruption charges dating back to 2006. Accused of misusing public funds during a London investment event while serving as Investment Promotion Minister, Bogollagama has lived in self-imposed exile in the UK since 2022 and has not returned to face trial. The case, filed by Sri Lanka’s bribery commission (CIABOC) in 2015, alleges violations of the Bribery Act involving over Rs. 1.5 million in unauthorized expenses. The trial is set to begin on 30 October 2025. His immigration status in the UK remains unclear, and civil society groups are urging international cooperation.[16][17]
Family
[edit]He is married to Deepthi Samarakone, youngest daughter of Donald Samarakone of the Ceylon Civil Service and Srima Samarakone daughter of Mudliyar A. V. Rathnayake. He has three sisters Kusum, Sucharitha and Jayathri. He has a son and a daughter.[18] (ex Chairman of the National Enterprise Development Authority)[19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Mohan, Sulochana Ramiah (1 November 2024). "SL Government Recalls 15 Political Appointees from Diplomatic Missions". Ceylon Today. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Sri Lankan president reshuffles cabinet". People's Daily Online. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ a b "Rohitha Bogollagama, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka". The International Institute For Strategic Studies. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte Daily News, Retrieved on 27 February 2014.
- ^ C.M.B. BOGALLAGAMA, Maintained Bar and Bench relationship. Daily News, Retrieved on 17 October 2014.
- ^ "Obituaries". Daily News – Lakehouse Newspapers. 20 September 2005. Archived from the original on 21 November 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ "Sri Lanka cabinet list". BBC News. 12 December 2001. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ "Bogollagama elected COPE Chairman". Daily News. 13 October 2004. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ "Bogollagama joins Government". Daily News. 19 November 2004. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ Nakkawita, Wijitha (24 November 2005). "New chiselled down Cabinet sworn in". The Island. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ Sudworth, John (3 April 2006). "Time to end Sri Lanka time split?". BBC News. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ "Orientation program held for 10 new SL foreign envoys". newswire.lk. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Extravagant spending: Bogollagama does it again". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ "Probe launched into Sri Lankan HC in UK, his expenses: Minister - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Rohitha Bogollagama Under Criminal Investigation in the United Kingdom". www.lankaenews.com. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ ""Fleeing the Country Won't Save You" : Rohitha Bogollagama to Stand Trial in Absentia Over Corruption Charges". lankaenews.com. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Case against Rohitha Bogollagama to be tried in absentia". Newswire. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ Lankalia buys 80% stake in Peacock Beach Hotel. Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka), Retrieved on 26 February 2023.
- ^ Dashitha appoined (sic) National Enterprise Development Authority Chairman. Daily FT (Sri Lanka), Retrieved on 26 June 2018.
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