Dual citizens cannot contest Parliamentary Polls – govt

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ajith P. Perera says that according to provisions included in the 19th amendment to the constitution, Sri Lankan nationals who possess dual citizenships are not permitted to contest in the General Election.

He stated that when a Sri Lankan receives citizenship from another country he automatically loses his Sri Lankan citizenship.

However, they can request for citizenship in their homeland and if that request is approved then that person will be eligible for dual citizenship, the deputy minister told Ada Derana.

President’s Counsel Dr. Jayampathi Wickramaratne, a member of the Committee on the Draft Amendment to the Constitution, says that being a Sri Lankan citizen is an ‘essential qualification’ for contesting a General Election in the country.

Meanwhile the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, N.M. Ranasinghe, says that UPFA Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa are both in possession of dual citizenship.

Speaking to Ada Derana, he stated that the two Rajapaksa brothers have been dual citizens since a long while back.