Magistrate allows State Minister Gamage to travel overseas

By T. Farook Thajudeen

State Minister Diana Gamage

Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe yesterday temporarily lifted the travel ban imposed on State Minister Diana Gamage to travel to Europe and Singapore.

Magistrate Amarasinghe lifted the travel ban imposed on Gamage after considering the appeal made by President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne who informed Court that his client is required to travel overseas between 21-23 December.

The Magistrate further ordered to release Gamage on personal bail of Rs. 200,000 with two sureties for Rs. 200,000 on each surety. 

Senior Counsel Gunaratna Wanninayake appearing for the petitioner submitted that the Criminal Investigations Department and the Attorney General had not seemed to have taken any action on the complaint made by his client to the CID.

Counsel Sarath Jayamanna PC contended that Gamage was not a suspect in this case.

However, Magistrate observed that Diana Gamage was mentioned in the CID report as a suspect and ordered the OIC of the CID to produce a comprehensive investigation report to the court on or before 5 January 2023.

Colombo Chief Magistrate earlier restrained Diana Gamage from leaving the country without court’s sanction.

The Magistrate imposed the ban on considering a petition filed by social activist Oshala Herath who had alleged that the State Minister’s identity documents, including her passport, birth certificate and National Identity Card have been obtained by providing false information to the concerned authorities.

The Magistrate had ordered the CID to submit a report on the dual citizenship of Diana Gamage in court yesterday. State Minister Diana Gamage was not present in court yesterday.

The case was postponed for 5 January 2023.