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UK accepts complaint regarding SJB lawmaker’s alleged British citizenship

Published

6 years ago

2020/12/3

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Civil society activist Oshala Herath yesterday (2) said that the UK Government had responded to his query regarding Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) Naltional List MP Diana Gamage being a British passport holder.

Herath said that he had received a response from the UK Visas and Emigration Section on Dec 1 as regards his Nov 25 query although Election Commission (EC) and other relevant authorities were yet to take up the matter.

Herath, who served in former President Maithripala Sirisena’s media unit, in different capacities, alleged that those responsible for inquiring into the matter were silent on the presence of a British passport holder in Parliament. Herath said the CID was yet to initiate an inquiry.

Having switched her allegiance to the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) recently, MP Gamage voted for the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. In terms of the 20th Amendment approved with an overwhelming 2/3 majority, dual citizens are permitted to contest general election or enter Parliament through NL.

Herath made available a copy of the response he received from the UK Visas and Emigration Section to The Island.

Responding to another query, Herath said that he was informed that though the release of information relating to Diana Gamage was restricted in terms of Data Protection Act of 2018, his complaint would be investigated by the relevant unit.

A person, named G. Bunker, who has signed the document on behalf of ‘Central Operations’ has said the e-mail received from Herath was sent to the appropriate department. Bunker has advised Herath that he shouldn’t expect to receive information pertaining to the result of his complaint as release of such material could jeopardise their investigations. Herath said the British would have simply dismissed his complaint if it had been baseless.

MP Gamage, taking part in Hiru ‘Salakuna’ programme, strongly denied being a British passport holder. She is on record as having said via social media that she renounced her British citizenship in 2015 to launch her political career here.

Herath said he was confident that the five-member EC appointed in terms of the 20th Amendment would conduct a proper inquiry into his complaint. Attorney-at-law Nimal G. Punchihewa heads the EC. Other members are M. M. Mohamed, Gunapala Wickramage, Jeevan Thyagaraja and K. P. P. Pathirana. The previous EC consisted of Mahinda Deshapriya, Nalin Abeysekera, PC and Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole.

The defeated Colombo District UNP candidate at the last general election in early August alleged that the previous EC, instead of conducting a proper inquiry, had thrown its weight behind Diana Gamage. Herath made available his correspondence with the then EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya to The Island in respect of MP Diana Gamage’s matter and the re-registering of ‘Ape Jathika Peramuna’ as SJB in the run-up to the last general election.

Herath alleged that the SJB had accommodated Diana Gamage on its NL as she as the General Secretary of Ape Jathika Peramuna had played a significant role in enabling Sajith Premadasa-led rebel UNP group to contest the general election.

In the run-up to the general election, the Supreme Court dismissed Herath’s petition against the registration of the SJB.

Herath said that he would soon write to the new EC Chairman as well as the newly formed five-member Parliamentary Council (PC) regarding the previous EC’s failure to probe the matter. The PC couldn’t turn a blind eye to the EC’s failure though in terms of the 20th Amendment the President was the appointing authority, he said.

Herath said that he had brought MP Gamage’s citizenship issue to the notice of the Secretary to the President, the Speaker and the Attorney General.

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Thileepan rembered on 39th death anniversary

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

(Pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA)

A commemorative service was held in memory of Rasaiah Parthipan commonly known by the nom de guerre ‘Thileepan’ in Nallur Jaffna this morning (26).

Parthipan a revolutionary member of the LTTE and a student of the University of Jaffna, commenced a hunger strike on 15th September 1987 untill his death on 26th September 1987. He was 23 years old at the time of his demise.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

18 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

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22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

Published

19 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.