By Easwaran Rutnam and Maheesha Mudugamuwa
Some Tamil diaspora groups are preparing to challenge the move by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to renounce his US citizenship.
Rajapaksa has reportedly submitted documents to renounce his US citizenship which will allow him to then contest the next presidential election.
When contacted, the US Embassy in Colombo refused to confirm if Rajapaksa had filed the papers and if it had been approved.
However, there are provisions in US law to refuse to allow a US citizen to renounce his/her citizenship on certain grounds.
This includes, if there are allegations against the individual which will require that person to face charges in a US court.
The Sunday Morning learnt that some diaspora groups were preparing to file case in a US court against Rajapaksa related to the war.
However, since the cases had not yet been filed the diaspora groups refused to comment further.
The US-based Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam said that even if Rajapaksa’s US citizenship was renounced, he still could be prosecuted in a US court under the universal jurisdiction principle.
MP Shehan Semasinghe said that the governing party knows the candidate who could challenge them would be Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Therefore, they would take measures to ensure he would not contest the election.
“If they go to court, we will face that battle. As of now, the country is in utter chaos. We have to come out of this mess. Also, the Government will do everything the LTTE Diaspora says. We are very confident that we can face all legal challenges,” MP Semasinghe added.
Some Tamil diaspora groups are preparing to challenge the move by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to renounce his US citizenship.
Rajapaksa has reportedly submitted documents to renounce his US citizenship which will allow him to then contest the next presidential election.
When contacted, the US Embassy in Colombo refused to confirm if Rajapaksa had filed the papers and if it had been approved.
However, there are provisions in US law to refuse to allow a US citizen to renounce his/her citizenship on certain grounds.
This includes, if there are allegations against the individual which will require that person to face charges in a US court.
The Sunday Morning learnt that some diaspora groups were preparing to file case in a US court against Rajapaksa related to the war.
However, since the cases had not yet been filed the diaspora groups refused to comment further.
The US-based Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam said that even if Rajapaksa’s US citizenship was renounced, he still could be prosecuted in a US court under the universal jurisdiction principle.
MP Shehan Semasinghe said that the governing party knows the candidate who could challenge them would be Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Therefore, they would take measures to ensure he would not contest the election.
“If they go to court, we will face that battle. As of now, the country is in utter chaos. We have to come out of this mess. Also, the Government will do everything the LTTE Diaspora says. We are very confident that we can face all legal challenges,” MP Semasinghe added.