By A.J.A Abeynayaka

Colombo Chief magistrate Prasanna Alwis yesterday (02) told representatives of the CID that they must investigate and find out how documents given by State Minister Diana Gamage to Immigration Department to obtain her passports had gone missing.

Alwis added that although the original documents submitted by Gamage had gone missing, the copies thereof were enough for the CID to commence an investigation.

Gamage had left the country in 1980 under a different name and then returned later with a British Passport under the name Diana Gamage, ASP Chanaka Silva, who represented the CID, said, adding they could only determine if she violated the immigration laws based on the documents to be sent by the British.

The Magistrate said that the state minister had claimed she returned to Sri Lanka after renouncing British citizenship and she obtained a Sri Lankan passport. He asked the CID whether those statements were true. He also said that representatives of the Attorney General’s Department must be present in the future to assist in the investigation. He asked the Attorney General to send his representatives.

The Chief Magistrate asked the CID to present all the statements obtained from Gamage and other witnesses. Rienzi Arsecularatne PC, who represented plaintiff Oshala Herath, informed court that the CID had, in a B Report submitted in 2021, said that Gamage violated immigration laws. He asked the court to instruct the CID to arrest Gamage.

Shavendra Fernando PC, who represents Gamage, objected to Arsecularatne’s request. A heated argument took place between Fernando and Gunaratna Wanninayaka, who represented the lawyers, and Thusitha Gunasekera, who represented Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara. Colombo Chief Magistrate warned lawyers to behave themselves.

The CID then informed court that it had asked Gamage to hand over her passport, but she has not done so. The Colombo Chief Magistrate asked the CID if it was not an hindrance to the investigations. ASP Chanaka Silva, representing the CID, requested the court to give an order on that. The case will be taken up again on 23 March.