Issuance of official passport to Diana: Oshala now targets Immigration and Emigration Controller

Civil society activist Oshala Herath yesterday (28) lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) seeking an investigation into the issuance of an official passport, bearing the number D5659363, to UK citizen Diana Gamage.

Referring to the Supreme Court unseating Gamage from Parliament over her citizenship issue, Herath has asked the CID to probe how Immigration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Illukpitiya issued the passport knowing very well Diana Gamage’s citizenship status.

Pointing out that Illukpitiya had, on 12 Sept., 2022, issued a passport, bearing the number D5659363 to Gamage although his predecessor Sarath Rupesinghe had refused to issue her with a passport as she was not a Sri Lankan citizen. Herath said that an in-depth investigation carried out by the CID, following a complaint lodged by him on Nov 02, 2020, too, had revealed Diana Gamage’s real status.

Claiming that her passport had been handed over to the Immigration and Emigration Controller on 18 May, 2024, Herath said that the former State Minister had been allowed to stay without proper approval.

He said that the former lawmaker should be dealt with according to the law.

The CIABOC, too, had asked the CID to inquire into the matter following an intervention made by him, Herath added.