All tight lipped; Speaker to seek legal notice to get names of dual citizens

• Abeywardena will seek a legal notice to obtain the names from the Immigration Dept. and will also seek the advice of the AG and the Justice Ministry
• Sources within the Parliament however said they had no idea as to who the MPs are who are dual citizens as such information was not required to be registered by Parliament

 By Jamila Husain

As the 21st amendment was passed in Parliament recently, the question which has now hit the House by storm is which MP is a dual citizen? While silent whispers and internal talks continue among the parliamentarians, no name has still come to light with almost all departments remaining tight lipped over it. 

The Department of Immigration and Emigration launched a special investigation last week following a request made under the Right to Information Act, to identify which MPs are dual citizens. The Department is yet to finalize its investigations stating that the probe was conducted based on a document containing the date of birth, name and National Identity Number referred by Parliament. Sources within the Parliament however said they had no idea as to who the MPs are who are dual citizens as such information was not required to be registered by Parliament. There was no legal provision for it, and none of the 225 MPs have declared themselves to be dual citizens to the House. The only name that became publicized in recent months is that of Basil Rajapaksa who is no longer an MP and due to his firm belief to remain an American will not have any place to contest in a Sri Lankan election or hold a parliamentary seat in the future. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena who has been under pressure to divulge the names is yet to get any indication from the Immigration and Emigration Department. Sources close to the Speaker told Daily Mirror that Abeywardena will seek a legal notice to obtain the names from the Immigration and Emigration Department and will also seek the advice of the Attorney General and the Justice Ministry. After this, the names are likely to be made public. According to sources, it is possible that over 6 names of MPs may surface once the probe is completed but to date the names are running on speculation only. MP Udaya Gammanpila has already alleged that State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage was a dual citizen as she was a UK citizen to which Diana has challenged Gammanpila to go to court to prove his claim that she was not a Sri Lankan citizen. Rumors were also afloat that some MPs from within the TNA may also be dual citizen holders but this allegation was shot down by senior TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, who stated that there were no dual citizens within the TNA. He however said that they had heard there were many dual citizens in Parliament and if so this should be investigated and action should be taken to remove them.  
Some FR petitions are also likely to be filed in the coming weeks to get more information on who the possible dual citizens are and according to sources those MPs who are likely to be exposed are also preparing to challenge their stand.   

• The Immigration Department is yet to finalize its probe on the matter