News

UK accepts complaint regarding SJB lawmaker’s alleged British citizenship

Published

5 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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Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Maldives and Sri Lanka exchange seven MOUs

Published

5 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed across several sectors between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, were formally exchanged this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives.

Marking a new chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, the MoUs cover cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly:

1. MoU on Tourism Cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

2. MoU on Archiving Cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

3. MoU on Training and Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

4. MoU on Sports and Youth Development Cooperation between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

5. MoU on Defence Cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

6. MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service of the Maldives and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

7. MoU on Academic Cooperation between the University of Colombo of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The state visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to further strengthen economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries, while enhancing their multifaceted partnership.

Cabinet Ministers, government officials and members of the Maldivian delegation, representing both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were present at the occasion.

[President’s Media Division]