• Says GR should place documents in public domain to prove he has renounced US citizenship
• Wants MR to be clear on SLPP Presidential candidate

Parliamentarian Duminda Dissanayake yesterday challenged former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to place documents proving that he has renounced his US citizenship in the public domain.

Duminda Dissanayake

Speaking to media at Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) head office, Dissanayake said if Rajapaksa wants to be more transparent about his citizenship, he should not hide the documents to back his claims that he had renounced his US citizenship.

“If I was him, I would have called a press conference and proved that I have renounced my US citizenship, and give copies of my documents to journalists to publish that on their respective media platforms,” Dissanayake said.

According to Dissanayake, if Rajapaksa failed to present documents to prove that he has renounced his US citizenship, that will create doubts in the minds of his supporters, which would be unfavourable for him.

“According to the information I have, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has only the letter given to him by the US State Department, saying they have received his request to renounce his citizenship.” He said Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa should clearly state whether he will support Gotabaya Rajapaksa to be named as Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) Presidential candidate. “If Mahinda Rajapaksa announces the SLPP Presidential candidate clearly, then there will be no confusion among the SLPP supporters,” he argued.

SLFP to decide Presidential candidate on 2 September