Diana’s travel ban temporarily lifted

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered to temporarily lift the travel ban imposed on State Minister Diana Gamage, for a period of five days.  

Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe ordered the Controller-General of Immigration and Emigration to lift the travel ban against Diana Gamage for a five-day-period.   

President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanna appearing for Diana Gamage moved Court to relax the travel ban imposed against his client since she is hoping to go abroad on December 21.  
The court had imposed a travel ban against State Minister Diana Gamage in connection with a magisterial inquiry into a complaint that she had obtained a Sri Lankan passport after furnishing false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.  

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.