News
SC to be moved on basis of CA judge’s dissenting views
Diana’s citizenship issue : petitioner questions UK’s response to CID’s request for assistance
Civil society activist Oshala Herath yesterday (05) said he would move the Supreme Court soon against the dismissal of a case seeking disqualification of SJB MP Diana Gamage over a citizenship issue.The Court of Appeal dismissed the case filed by the defeated Colombo district UNP candidate, in a majority decision last week. Justice K.K.A.V. Swarnadhipathi agreed with the President of the Court of Appeal Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna to dismiss the case, whereas Justice M.A. R. Marikkar offered a different opinion.
Justice Marikkar stated that the petitioner had produced sufficient material to show that State Minister Gamage had not secured Sri Lankan citizenship and/or renounced her British citizenship. As against the documents and the material produced by the petitioner, the State Minister had failed to prove that she was a citizen of Sri Lanka, Justice Marikkar stressed.
The SJB accommodated Gamage on its National List (NL) following the last general election. She is one of the seven SJB NL members who have switched their allegiance to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Justice Marikkar has pointed out that it was the duty of the State Minister to prove her citizenship rather than challenging the petitioner’s position. He stressed that the petitioner had proved a prima facie case against the State Minister, and as such, he could not agree with the decision of the CA President.
Herath told The Island that he would appeal to the Supreme Court primarily on the basis of dissenting views expressed by Justice Marikkar.
Herath said that the British government had declined to assist relevant authorities in ascertaining the State Minister’s citizenship. Referring to a document submitted to court by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in March this year, Herath said that the law enforcement authorities through the Justice Ministry and Foreign Ministry had sought the UK’s assistance in terms of bilatral agreement in this regard but failed at least to receive a response. (SF)
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
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Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
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