Lanka’s PR operator Zuberi now with Trump

In the news again is Imad Zuberi, the Pakistani national who was one of those hired by the then Monitoring MP for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, to carry out “public relations” work in the US “to promote Sri Lanka”.

Mr Gunawardena had ensured that he be paid millions of dollars for the exercise which produced little or no results. Mr. Zuberi is in the news once again. This is what the New York Times had to say in a story about those who funded Donald Trump’s elec- tion campaign last year:

“A $900,000 donation came in December from Avenue Ventures, a California-based boutique money management firm founded by the entrepreneur Imad Zuberi. Mr. Zuberi was a top fund-raiser for President Barack Obama and for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Zuberi was also paid millions of dollars to work in Washington on behalf of the scandal-plagued government of Sri Lanka and its central bank, work he did not initially disclose to the Justice Department as required by federal law, according to a report in Foreign Policy magazine.

“Mr. Zuberi is now making inroads in Mr. Trump’s circle. After making the donation, he earned a coveted spot at the Chairman’s Global Dinner, a pre-inauguration, black-tie gathering intended to introduce the incoming president to the foreign diplomatic corps. A photo from the event shows Mr. Zuberi in conversation with Mr. Trump and other guests.

“Mr. Zuberi did not return a phone call seeking comment.”