Gota’s dual cititizenship: Petitioners facing death threats

Gamini Viyangoda and Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara, who filed the writ petition against former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s dual citizenship, yesterday complained to the CID that they were facing death threats in the wake of filing the petition.

They had earlier complained to the CID that Mr. Rajapaksa, while being an American citizen, had come to Sri Lanka on a tourist visa and was engaged in carrying out propaganda for his candidature at the forthcoming presidential election.

Prof. Thenuwara told a news conference that they had received threats via social media platforms - several of which had tarnished his image.

“Being faced with deaths threats makes me recall the period during which the white van culture was introduced and the lives of journalists were in danger,” he said and highlighted the fact that they had gone to court on behalf of people and the question they had raised was a crucial one that should be asked by the citizens.

“We don’t want the white van culture to come again but want to restore the rights of the people,” Prof. Thenuwara. (Sheain Fernandopulle)