Court prevents Diana Gamage from leaving the country

• 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

 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 until November 17, without court permission.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe made this order following a request made by a group of lawyers led by Senior Counsel Gunaratne Wanninayake. In a motion supported by an affidavit, the lawyers appearing for the aggrieved party convinced the court that Diana Gamage who had obtained a Sri Lankan passport after furnishing false information is planning to leave the country within the next few days.

After having considered the submissions, the Chief Magistrate prevented the State Minister from leaving the country without court permission, and this order will be effective until November 17. However, the State Minister will be able to go abroad after getting court’s permission.

The Court has already issued an order directing the CID to expedite the investigation into a B report filed against State Minister Diana Gamage regarding a complaint that she had obtained a Sri Lankan passport after furnishing false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.

The court had earlier issued a show-cause notice to the OIC of the Anti-Human Smuggling Investigation Bureau (ASIB) attached to CID ordering to explain the progress of investigations against State Minister Diana Gamage.
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 who contested the 2020 General Election under the UNP ticket (Colombo District).
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.