Parliament’s High Posts Committee has, for the second time, blocked the nomination of H.M.V.B. Vijitha Herath to a diplomatic post, citing grave allegations of forgery, misrepresentation, and misuse of state documents. The matter has now been referred to investigative bodies, as the allegations point to possible criminal offences.

The Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, noted that Herath’s record was riddled with serious inconsistencies. Among the charges are falsified diplomatic claims, illegal use of an official passport, concealment of British citizenship, fabricated academic qualifications, and misrepresentation of UN service.

Fraudulent diplomatic credentials – Herath claimed to have served as Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul in South Sudan from 2011 to 2014. However, official records show that neither a Commission of Appointment nor an Exequatur — both essential for such a role — was ever issued. A senior Foreign Ministry official branded the claim as “outright forgery.”

Illegal possession of an official passport – Herath is alleged to have unlawfully acquired and used an official passport (No. OL3640273) even after resigning from public service. Immigration logs confirm that he travelled on this document between 2018 and 2021, despite no longer being entitled to its use. Legal experts have stressed that this constitutes fraud and a criminal offence.

Concealment of British citizenship – Investigations suggest that Herath obtained British citizenship, possibly under refugee status, but failed to disclose this when applying for a Sri Lankan passport. Under Section 45 of the Immigration and Emigration Act, nondisclosure of dual nationality is a punishable crime.

False UN involvement – Herath publicly described himself as a “UN diplomat,” yet records show he only served as a Sri Lankan police officer on secondment to UN peacekeeping missions, without any diplomatic status. Former UN officials confirmed his claims were false.

Academic fabrications – Questions have also arisen about his educational background. He claimed to have completed both a Postgraduate Certificate and a Master’s degree between 2001 and 2002 while simultaneously deployed in East Timor, with no verified undergraduate degree. Experts have suggested this could amount to academic fraud.

Committee members underscored that the matter has gone beyond assessing Herath’s fitness for public office. “This is no longer about suitability — this is about whether criminal laws were broken,” one member said.