PAFFREL wants Speaker to act

Dual citizens in Parliament:

People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has requested Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to inquire into claims that there were at least 10 dual citizens in Parliament.

Executive Director of the polls monitoring body, Rohana Hettiarachchi has, in a letter dated 25 Oct., stressed that unless action is taken to verify these accusation the public would lose faith in the Parliament as well as its members.

The enactment of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution on 21 Oct., would make it an offense for dual citizens to continue as MPs.

Hettiarachchi has informed the Speaker that his outfit already taken up this issue with the Controller of Immigration and Emigration.

Addressing the media yesterday (25) Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila contradicted SJB MP State Minister Diana Gamage’s recent declaration that only Australia and Sri Lanka legally obstructed foreign passport holders from entering Parliament.

Lawmaker Gammanpila said that such views were meant to deceive the public that the enactment of 21st Amendment to the Constitution sought to target certain individuals. The 21st Amendment was much more than denying dual citizens an opportunity to enter parliament, the Attorney-at-Law said.

Both Prof. Channa Jayasumana and Patali Champika Ranawara have alleged that there were ten dual citizens in Parliament. Jayasumana later alleged among them, there were two foreign passport holders (SF)