News

Now, SJB lawmaker accused of being a UK citizen

Published

6 years ago

2020/10/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

EC Chairman denies allegations

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Election Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has denied accusations that controversial SJB National List lawmaker Diana Gamage is a dual citizen, and therefore not eligible to be a member of parliament.

Responding to a spate of allegations, the EC Chairman has said that both the Registrar of Persons and the Immigration and Emigration Department confirmed she was born at Kalubowila in 1965 and carried a Sri Lankan passport and not registered as a dual citizen.

In terms of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in early 2015, dual citizens are not eligible to contest either parliamentary or presidential elections.

Defeated UNP Colombo District candidate at the recently concluded general election Oshala Herath yesterday told The Island that the public really appreciated the EC Chairman responding to him personally after he raised the issue on the social media.

Herath alleged that lawmaker Diana Gamage at the time she took oaths as an MP held British citizenship. One-time aide to President Maithripala Sirisena acknowledged she may have not probably sought dual citizenship and, therefore, was a British citizen in Sri Lanka Parliament.

Herath said that he had received an assurance from Deshapriya a copy of Diana Gamage’s National identity Card handed over to the EC along with the Samagi Jana Balavegaya’s National List proved she was a Sri Lanka. Herath however said that UK trade information provider ‘Companies House’ recognised the new MP as a British national.

Responding to criticism against him on social media, Deshapriya emphasised that it wouldn’t be fair to criticise him as he wasn’t the EC. Deshapriya suggested whatever inquiries and complaints should be directed to the EC.

The EC comprises three members. In addition to Deshapriya, Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole and Nalin Abeysekera PC constitute the EC.

Diana Gamage was among eight Opposition MPs who voted for the 20th Amendment to the Constitution last Thursday (22) in violation of a decision taken by the SJB to oppose the Bill. She also voted for the clause that permitted dual citizens to enter Parliament.

Diana Gamage held the post of Secretary of Ape Jathika Peramuna, a political party recognised by the Election department/Election Commission before dissident UNP group led by Sajith Premadasa took over that party in the run-up to last the parliamentary election. Premadasa re-registered Ape Jathika Peramuna as the Samagi Jana Balavegaya under controversial circumstances, according to a complaint lodged by Herath with the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption).

In terms of the agreement between the two parties to the agreement, Diana Gamage received one of the seven National List slots secured by the SJB.

In the previous parliament, Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe lost her seat following the Supreme Court ruling that she had been a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and Switzerland at the time of her election.

Herath said that he would complain to police headquarters later this week about the dual citizenship issue.

SLPP MPs including Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila are on record as having said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assured them the prohibition on dual citizens will be re-imposed when his government brings in a new Constitution.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.