A marketing professor, Sumith Gunasekera, has been terminated from his position after a disturbing history came to light with his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case reveals a pattern of deception and a troubling criminal past concealed for years.
ICE took Gunasekera, originally from Sri Lanka, into custody on November 12th, identifying him as a “criminal illegal alien sex offender.” This arrest wasn’t an isolated incident, but the culmination of decades of concealed offenses and attempts to exploit the U.S. immigration system.
The roots of the case trace back to 1998 in Ontario, Canada, where Gunasekera faced two separate arrests within days of each other. The charges were deeply concerning: uttering death threats and, more gravely, an “invitation to sexual touching and sexual interference.”
During questioning, Gunasekera chillingly admitted to police that the sexual offense charge involved a minor. This revelation would become a central point in his later struggles with U.S. immigration authorities.
Gunasekera initially entered the United States in February 1998, briefly departing for Canada before returning later that same year on a student visa. He attempted to alter his immigration status in 2012, a process that unearthed his Canadian criminal convictions.
Immigration officials discovered a deliberate pattern of manipulation. Gunasekera repeatedly sought to navigate the immigration system through applications, denials, and appeals, all while concealing his past. His Canadian convictions rendered him ineligible for legal status in the U.S.
The troubling behavior didn’t end in Canada. In 2003, Gunasekera was arrested in Las Vegas for “open and gross lewdness,” leading to a subsequent conviction for disorderly conduct and a financial penalty in 2004.
A detailed account from the Department of Homeland Security outlines the full extent of his criminal history. On August 28, 1998, Peel Regional Police arrested him for uttering death threats, followed by the arrest for sexual interference just three days later. The 1998 Canadian court sentenced him to a month in jail and a year of probation.
The gravity of the situation prompted a strong response from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who expressed outrage that a convicted sex offender was employed at a university, potentially endangering students. She emphasized the success of ICE officers in removing a dangerous individual from the community.
Ferris State University, where Gunasekera was employed, has confirmed his termination. A university spokesperson stated that he is “no longer with Ferris State University,” but declined to comment further on the personnel matter.
Currently, Gunasekera remains in ICE custody as immigration proceedings continue. His attempts to exploit the system have been halted, and he now faces the consequences of his concealed past.
