Court issues orders to investigate alleged GR immigration law violations

The Colombo Magistrate's Court yesterday issued two orders to probe whether former Defense Secretary and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa has violated the country's immigration laws at the 2005 Presidential Election.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne issued the orders yesterday, regarding an investigation launched on a complaint that Gotabaya Rajapaksa had violated the Citizenship Act, the Immigration and Emigration Act, and the Elections Act, by engaging in political activities during the 2005 Presidential Election while on a tourist visa as a US citizen.

The Magistrate, considering a request made by the Criminal Investigations Department, ordered the Controller of Immigration and Emigration and the Assistant Elections Commissioner of Hambantota to provide necessary documents for the investigation to the CID.

The CID stated that the Immigration and Emigration Department's Visa Division officials had been questioned, and statements had been obtained regarding the investigation.

It was revealed that when the Department of Immigration and Emigration was under the purview of the Defense Ministry in 2005, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had obtained dual citizenship. The CID told the Court that although they have made requests, they have not yet received the relevant documents.

The CID requested the court to issue an order to the Controller of the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Assistant Elections Commissioner of Hambantota to provide the relevant documents required for the investigation.

The investigation has been launched following a complaint lodged by Prof. Chandragupta Thenuwara and Gamini Viyangoda to the Inspector General of Police (IGP). In the reports submitted to the Court by the CID, the complainants have stated that Gotabaya Rajapaksa has obtained a new passport and National Identity Card, claiming that his US citizenship has been revoked.

The CID has informed the court that further inquiries will be carried out with regard to the complainants’ claim that in addition, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has not submitted a formal certificate of revoking his US citizenship, and information will be obtained from the relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Consular Office.