The Right to Information (RTI) Commission on Wednesday (1) instructed the Department of Immigration and Emigration to hand over a written submission within two weeks, mentioning the reasons why the department cannot divulge information relating to MPs who possess dual citizenship, in connection with the relevant RTI appeal made by the polls monitor, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
Speaking to The Daily Morning, PAFFREL’s Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said yesterday (2) that the RTI Commission had questioned the department on the reasons as to why the information was not provided to his organisation. “They have given us various reasons and the RTI Commission a different reason, so finally, the Commission has given them two weeks to come up with a written submission. If they come up with a solid answer, we also can take further action based on the written submission,” he said.
On 22 December 2022, PAFFREL made an RTI appeal to the RTI Commission, seeking to identify MPs who possess dual citizenship. Accordingly, Hettiarachchi told The Daily Morning on 26 December 2022, that he expects the RTI Commission to respond to the appeal, and that failing which, he would file a public interest litigation with regard to the issue of MPs holding dual citizenship.
On 25 October 2022, PAFFREL made the initial RTI application to the department with regard to dual citizen MPs. On 16 November 2022, the RTI request made by PAFFREL to the department was rejected on the grounds that the department was not in a position to provide the information requested under the personal category. PAFFREL thus appealed to the Controller General of the said department, but there has been no response from the latter.
Meanwhile, in early January 2023, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court (MC) ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to obtain the report from the British High Commission regarding the citizenship of State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage as soon as possible and to conduct the relevant investigations.
The case was filed after a complaint by social activist Oshala Herath with the CID alleging that Gamage’s passport, national identity card (NIC), and birth certificate are fake.