Court imposes travel ban on Diana Gamage

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued an order directing the Controller-General of Immigration and Emigration to prevent State Minister Diana Gamage from leaving the country in connection with a magisterial inquiry over a complaint that she obtained a Sri Lankan passport after furnishing false information.  

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage made this order pursuant to a request made by parties including the virtual complainant alleging that Diana Gamage allegedly committed offences under the Immigrants and Emigrants Act.  

The Court was informed that in line with Wednesday’s (08) Supreme Court ruling, there are sufficient materials to name Diana Gamage as a suspect and warned that there is a possibility of her fleeing the country to evade magisterial inquiry.  

In 2021, the CID had filed a B report in the Chief Magistrate’s Court against Diana Gamage over a complaint that she is a British citizen residing in Sri Lanka without a dual citizenship status.  

The CID had commenced investigations into this incident subsequent to a complaint lodged by social activist Oshala Herath.  

According to the B report filed before court, the CID alleged that investigations would be carried out against parliamentarian Diana Gamage under section 175 of Penal Code for furnishing false information and under sections 45(1)(a) and 45(1)(c) of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act (IEA) for remaining in Sri Lanka in contravention of the provision of the IEA and making a false representation.  

Oshala Herath had made a written complaint with CID on November 2, 2020 alleging that parliamentarian Diana Gamage had fraudulently obtained an Official Sri Lankan passport without disclosing her British citizenship. The CID had initially informed the court that they have already recorded a statement from the complainant in respect of his written complaint and further said his statement was accompanied by supporting documents.  

According to the B report, the CID had recorded statements from officials attached to the Department of Immigrants and Emigrants, Thimbirigasyaya and Dehiwala divisional secretariat offices and relevant Grama Niladhari officers in order to ascertain the authenticity of the documents furnished by the parliamentarian including her birth certificate.