CID initiates probe into fake Chinese embassy letter

• Chinese Embassy says the letter is completely forged

By Sunil Jayasiri  

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has initiated an inquiry into the complaint about a ‘fake’ letter with the Chinese Embassy Letter head, claiming that China is unable to amortise Sri Lanka’s debts, a minister said.  

 Public Security Minister Tiran Alles told the Daily Mirror that the embassy official informed him about a forged document being widely circulated on social media.    “The officials (Chinese) wanted to have an inquiry about the said letter and I asked the CID to initiate into the matter,” the minister said.   

A letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe and dated 18 January 2023 was recently seen widely circulated on social media, under the official letter head of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka.   According to that, they(China) are unable to amortise the outstanding debts, as their economy too, is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.  
Later, the Chinese Embassy in a twitter message stated that the said letter in question was a ‘completely forged’ document.  

“The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka clarifies that a letter circulating on social media, under its official letter head and written to Sri Lankan President and Financial Minister, is completely forged. Please follow the official sources of information,” it tweeted.