Court of Appeal decides to inquire into Diana Gamage’s citizenship

Tuesday, 29 November 2022 03:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Court of Appeal yesterday issued formal notice and a direction on the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to submit all documents pertaining to the citizenship of State Minister Diana Gamage.

This was following a Writ of Quo Warranto being filed stating that Gamage could not have been elected since she is not a citizen of Sri Lanka. When the matter was taken up yesterday Counsel for the Petitioner told court that an ‘illegal alien’ was functioning in the capacity of a minister. He said that Diana Gamage was not a citizen of Sri Lanka at the time of the elections and is to date not a citizen of Sri Lanka.

He told the Court that the Controller of Immigration and Emigration has specified the same. He said that Gamage was on a resident visa in 2015 and that she had not obtained any kind of citizenship in the country.

He also said that the revelations were startling given that a person could enter parliament and function as a minister illegally for so long.

Court directed that notice be issued and also directed the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to submit all documentation pertaining to the citizenship of Diana Gamage.

Counsel Hafeel Farisz with Nishika Fonseka and Sanjeewa Kodiwthuwakku instructed by Gayen Darshana appeared for the Petitioner.

Senior State Counsel Suranga Wimalasena appeared for the Attorney General and other authorities. Farman Cassim PC with Budwin Siriwardena appeared for the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

The case is to be taken up on 12 December 2022.