Karunaratna

MEMORANDUM **

Henarathhetti Karunaratna, a native and citizen of Sri Lanka, petitions for review of the final decision of the Board of *924 Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) dismissing his appeal of an immigration judge’s denial of his application for asylum and withholding of deportation. Pursuant to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (“IIRIRA”), the transitional rules apply, see Kalaw v. INS, 133 F.3d 1147, 1150 (9th Cir.1997), and we therefore have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a), as amended by IIRIRA § 309(c), see Avetova-Elisseva v. INS, 213 F.3d 1192 , 1195 n. 4 (9th Cir.2000). We review for substantial evidence the BIA’s adverse credibility determination, see Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1245 (9th Cir.2000), and we deny the petition for review.

Karunaratna contends that substantial evidence does not support the BIA’s adverse credibility finding. We disagree.

An adverse credibility finding is supported by substantial evidence where the BIA provides specific, cogent reasons for its adverse credibility finding that are substantial and bear a legitimate nexus to the petitioner’s fear of persecution. See Garrovillas v. INS, 156 F.3d 1010,…