The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (5) ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to table reports from the British High Commission pertaining to the citizenship of State Minister Diana Gamage.
The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis when the petition filed by activist Oshala Herath was taken up for hearing today.
The Magistrate informed that a verdict can be issued promptly after the report by the High Commission is submitted, and stated that it is inappropriate to issue orders to arrest the State Minister to be produced before Court.
The Magistrate also stated that the advice of the Attorney General is not required in order to issue a verdict in the case.
A writ petition was filed by Oshala Herath calling for State Minister Diana Gamage to be stripped of her Parliamentary seat.
State Minister Gamage, the Immigration and Emigration Controller, the Minister of Public Security, the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the National Election Commission and its members, and the General Secretary of Parliament have been cited as respondents in the petition.
The petitioner claims that State Minister Diana Gamage holds British citizenship and according to the country’s Constitution, such an individual does not qualify to hold the position of a Member of Parliament.
