Mrs. Grand International 2022 beauty pageant administrators’ last-minute refusal to introduce Sri Lankan contestant Rasangi Chamika Withanawasam in the pageant’s final round due to Sri Lanka’s national director for the pageant, Malith Ranasinghe’s failure to pay the franchise fee, has embarrassed the country in front of international franchise holders, contestants, and dignitaries.
The pageant was held in Mandalay, Myanmar. The constant from Sri Lanka, Rasangi Chamika Withanawasam, told us yesterday that she is taking legal action against the local agent for the event Malith Ranasinghe.
I have instructed my attorney to send a letter of demand to Ranasinghe requesting Rs . 20 million for the damages he caused to me during the contest. According to her, Ranasinghe had allegedly solicited sexual bribes from her.
“He cheated me and violated the agreement he signed with me as the local representative for the Mrs. Grand International 2022 beauty pageant franchise,” she said.
 Mrs. Grand International Organization’s letter explaining their decision to disqualify the Sri Lankan contestant |
“I was devastated when the franchise holders told me on November 12 that I would not be able to participate in the final round because Malith Ranasinghe had not paid the franchise fee,” said Rasangi Withanawasam. The franchise fee was US $1,000.
“I was humiliated on the stage in front of 25 contestants from other countries”, she said.
“When I asked why they hadn’t brought up the franchise fee payment before, they told me that Mrs. Grand Sri Lanka’s national director Ranasinghe had informed them that he had sent the franchise fee in cash in my hand,” she said.
“After that, the Mrs. Grand International Organization handed me a letter explaining the situation,” she said.
The letter stated: “When we are inquiring again and again on the franchise payment from Malith Ranasinghe, he told us since there are limitations on international cash transferring in Sri Lanka rupees Grand International Sri Lanka will bring the franchise fee in cash when she arrives in Myanmar for the world pageant. Also, Malith Ranasinghe asked us not to inquire regarding this issue from Grand International Sri Lanka until she arrives in Sri Lanka.”
“Once Grand International Sri Lanka arrives in Myanmar, we have learned that neither she had brought franchise money in cash nor she doesn’t know that franchise money has not been paid yet, “the letter stated.
Rasangi Withanawasam said, “I went to Myanmar to participate in the Mrs. Grand International 2022 to bring fame and recognition to the country. I carried the Sri Lankan flag and 45 kilograms of national costumes during my participation in the pageant,” she said.
“I took part in the Mrs. Grand International 2022 pageant from November 8. They informed me this on November 12,” she said.
“I was ashamed after learning that I have been living on the expenses of the pageant organisers and that my country’s dignity has been sold down the river for a franchise fee of 1,000 US dollars.”
“I contacted my husband in the US and managed to get the franchise fee down to Myanmar and handed over the same to the organisers the following day on November 13,” she said, “By that time, the delay in paying the franchise fee, had cost me the final selection to the contest.”
“Malith never gave me any money to pay the franchise fee,” she said.
He had acted against the value and ethics of the contest, putting my reputation on the line, she said.
“Ranasinghe pestered me with telephone calls with other agendas. I have recorded telephone conversation clips with me to prove this—one of which I have already released to the media. I have many more,” she said.
Malith had allegedly invited her to spend a night with him, to have drinks, and to smoke “joints,” according to an audio release.
Our attempts to get a comment on the situation from Sri Lanka’s national director for the Mrs. Grand International 2022 and MR Entertainment pageant director Malith Ranasinghe for his take on the matter were futile.
Magen Ratata Organization President Sanjaya Mahawatte disclosed what had happened at the Mrs. Grand International beauty pageant and its backstage story for the first time at a recent press conference.
