Court rules that Geetha can’t hold seat in Parliament
May 3, 2017 10:44 am
The Court of Appeal today disqualified UPFA Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe from holding a seat in Parliament due to her dual citizenship status.
A petition was presented in March 2015 by four individuals from Galle challenging Kumarasinghe’s election to Parliament from the district at the last general election, due to her holding citizenship in Sri Lanka and Switzerland.
The verdict was delivered today by Judge Preethi Padman Surasena with agreement of the President of the Court of Appeal Vijith K. Malalgoda.
On March 14, the Attorney General had informed the Court of Appeal that Kumarasinghe cannot continue to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP) as she has failed to revoke her citizenship in Switzerland.
According to section 20 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, Article 91(1)(d)(xiii), a citizen of Sri Lanka who is also a citizen of any other country shall not be qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament or to sit and vote in Parliament.
Speaking to Ada Derana, Geetha Kumarasinghe said that she will appeal the court’s verdict and that the appeal will be filed with the Supreme Court within the day.
