The New Independent Front (NIF) has requested the Election Commission to take action against SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara for their failure to deal with ousted State Minister Diana Gamage, in spite of knowing that she was a British citizen.

NIF’s Chairman Oshala Herath, who successfully moved the Supreme Court against SJB National List MP Diana Gamage, has in a letter to the EC Chairman, dated June 3, 2024 emphasized the responsibility on his part to take up this issue with Messrs. Premadasa and Bandara.

Civil society activist Herath said that the SJB heavyweights should be dealt with in terms of the Parliamentary Elections Act (No 1 of 1981).

Herath told The Island that as the EC appointed another person (Mujibur Rahuman) to fill the vacancy created by Diana Gamage’s removal, the independent body should take the next step. Action should be initiated in respect of the SJB leader and its General Secretary for not moving court against Diana Gamage and their failure to inform the EC that Diana is a foreign citizen.

Claiming that he had personally briefed the SJB leader and the General Secretary on Diana Gamage’s citizenship status, Herath has requested the EC to deal with them in terms of Articles 18, 43 and 66 of the Parliamentary Elections Act (No 1 of 1981).

Herath unsuccessfully contested the last general election (2020) on the UNP ticket from the Colombo District. He served as a social media advisor to President Maithripala Sirisena. (SF)