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TNA denies its party has any dual-citizen MPs

27 Oct 2022

  • Rubbishes State Minister Sisira Jayakody’s claim
BY Mirudhula Thambiah The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) of the Parliamentary Opposition yesterday (26) refuted the allegation that some of the party’s MPs hold dual citizenship.  Speaking to The Morning yesterday, TNA Spokesman and MP President’s Counsel (PC) M.A. Sumanthiran noted that none of his party’s MPs hold dual citizenship.  “None of the TNA MPs are dual citizens. I strongly refute not only what State Minister Sisira Jayakody is saying, but even what MP Udaya Gammanpila claimed in 2015, to the effect that 10 of our MPs were dual citizens. This is all absolute nonsense. None of us are dual citizens,” he said.  Meanwhile, Jayakody, speaking to the media yesterday, claimed that certain TNA MPs are dual citizens and that there are other dual citizens currently serving in Parliament as well.  “I think now since the latest amendment to the basic law of the land has been passed (a reference to the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which contains provisions to outlaw dual citizens from representing Parliament), they should leave [Parliament],” he added.  Polls monitor, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi told The Morning on Tuesday (25) that his organisation had written to the Speaker of Parliament to take action in this regard, while also requesting the Right to Information Officer of the Department of Immigration and Emigration to identify the MPs who are dual citizens. Once the information is obtained, he said, it will be publicised with the intent of asking for their resignation, failing which, legal action will be taken.  


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