COLOMBO, Jun 4, 2025 — Explosive allegations have emerged against former Sri Lankan Minister Roshan Arachchige Vithanage Ranasinghe, accusing him of orchestrating a sophisticated immigration fraud scheme to unlawfully secure permanent residency in France. A formal complaint filed by a Sri Lankan citizen, Mr. Nilantha, (A ficticious named used to protect the informant) to the French Embassy in Colombo details how Ranasinghe allegedly used a third party to impersonate him in France, fulfilling the legal residency requirement without ever physically residing in the country himself.
Mr. Ranasinghe, who previously served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, is also widely known as a major automobile importer from Japan. However, his reputation has long been dogged by allegations of illegally importing vehicles assembled from parts of multiple used cars, a practice considered highly profitable but unlawful under Sri Lankan regulations.
In the letter submitted by Mr. Nilantha, it is alleged that Mr. Ranasinghe obtained a French visa and used it not to fulfill the legal stay requirement for permanent residency, but instead facilitated another individual to reside in France using his identity. This person, reportedly acting under Ranasinghe’s direct instructions, is said to have fraudulently accumulated the time needed for permanent residency eligibility — all while Ranasinghe remained in Sri Lanka.
“Evidence shows that Mr. Ranasinghe has only made occasional short trips abroad and was not physically present in France for the duration required by immigration law,” Mr. Nilantha stated. “The third-party impersonator has been residing in France, exploiting the visa system in Mr. Ranasinghe’s name.”
The complaint further reveals that Ranasinghe may also be in possession of a Japanese passport or residency status, which he allegedly used to bypass border tracking systems and mask his actual travel history. This alternate documentation could have enabled him to evade detection and falsify compliance with French residency obligations.
According to Mr. Nilantha, travel and entry-exit data maintained by Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration would clearly show that Ranasinghe was based in Sri Lanka during the supposed residency period, and that French border control records would not align with the timeline needed for lawful residency qualification.
“The alleged misuse of the French immigration system is not just a personal offense — it undermines the integrity of both French and Sri Lankan legal frameworks,” Mr. Nilantha argued. “It is an insult to genuine applicants who follow the law.”
The complaint stresses the seriousness of the offense, calling it an act of document fraud, identity misrepresentation, and deliberate circumvention of immigration laws. It urges the French Embassy to investigate and take appropriate legal and administrative actions, including revocation of any fraudulently obtained immigration benefits and sanctions against all parties involved.
Given Ranasinghe’s previous high-profile status in government, Mr. Nilantha warns that the scandal carries broader ramifications for public trust. “This case should serve as a signal that no one is above the law — not even former ministers,” he wrote.
Attached to the submission are copies of relevant documents and passport details to support the allegations. Mr. Nilantha has also expressed full willingness to assist authorities with further information.
At the time of publication, Mr. Ranasinghe had not publicly responded to the allegations.
