The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today issued an order directing the CID to expedite the investigation into a B report filed against State Minister Diana Gamage. This is in regard to a complaint that she had obtained a Sri Lankan passport after furnishing false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.
Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe ordered the CID to submit the progress of the investigation on December 15.
The court had earlier issued a show-cause notice to the OIC of the Anti-Human Smuggling Investigation Bureau (ASIB) attached to the CID order to explain the progress of investigations against State Minister Diana Gamage.
In 2021, the CID filed a B report in the Chief Magistrate’s Court against Diana Gamage. This report stated that she was a British citizen residing in Sri Lanka without dual citizenship status.
The CID had commenced investigations into this incident following a complaint lodged by social activist Oshala Herath who contested the 2020 General Election under the UNP ticket (Colombo District).
According to the B report filed before the court, the CID alleged that investigations would be carried out against parliamentarian Diana Gamage under section 175 of the Penal Code for furnishing false information and under sections 45(1)(a) and 45(1)(c) of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act (IEA) for remaining in Sri Lanka in contravention of the provisions of the IEA and making a false representation.
Oshala Herath filed a written complaint with CID on November 2, 2020. Through her complaint, she alleged that parliamentarian Diana Gamage fraudulently obtained an official Sri Lankan passport without disclosing her British citizenship. The CID had initially informed the court that they had already recorded a statement from the complainant in respect of his written complaint. They further said his statement was accompanied by supporting documents.
According to the B report, the CID had recorded statements from officials attached to the Department of Immigrants and Emigrants, Thimbirigasyaya and Dehiwala divisional secretariat offices and relevant Grama Niladhari officers in order to ascertain the authenticity of the documents furnished by the parliamentarian including her birth certificate.
