With claims being made that the Finance Ministry-Treasury Secretary, Harshana Suriyapperuma is a dual citizen following the scandal related to the alleged financial irregularity within the Finance Ministry, Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that if it had been revealed at any point when he was serving as a Parliamentarian and a Deputy Minister, or currently as Ministry-Treasury Secretary, that he was a dual citizen, legal action could have been instituted against him.

Dr. Jayatissa, addressing the media yesterday (5) during the weekly Cabinet of Ministers media briefing, and separately speaking to The Daily Morning, said, “I state with responsibility that he is not a dual citizen and that at no point while holding these positions has he been a dual citizen,” he said.

He noted that once information regarding the monetary scandal was reported within the Ministry, the Secretary and the Ministry’s management took the necessary decisions and actions. “All steps, including informing the Criminal Investigation Department to initiate an investigation, were taken with the knowledge of the Secretary,” he said. Dr. Jayatissa also noted that the incident was identified internally by the Ministry, which had itself initiated the inquiry, and therefore there was no requirement for the Secretary to step down.

However, he did not respond to a query from The Daily Morning on whether he holds permanent residency in Australia.

Earlier, a letter containing five questions had been submitted by the “Dinana Dakuna” organisation, raising concerns over the citizenship status of Dr. Suriyapperuma.

In the letter, the organisation stated that it expects direct and evidence-based responses from the Secretary regarding the matters raised. Accordingly, they have requested clear and substantiated answers to the following questions: The exact date on which he obtained the Australian citizenship?; Did he renounce the Australian citizenship and if so, the exact date of renunciation?; The date on which he obtained Sri Lankan citizenship under the relevant legal provisions after renouncing the Australian citizenship?; Whether he had officially renounced the Australian citizenship at the time he took oath as a Parliamentarian, or if he had only submitted an application for renunciation at that time?; and Whether the number C19090060828 dated 3 February 2010, currently circulating publicly, is related to his Australian citizenship or constitutes misleading information?

The organisation also emphasised the need for transparency and urged the Secretary to provide prompt clarification supported by evidence.