Complaint lodged at the CCD against Gota's ownership of two passports

COLOMBO (News 1st):- A complaint was lodged at the Colombo Crimes Division stating that the former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was using two passports. The complaint is followed by reports which noted that Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s name did not appear on the official US Government publication “Quarterly Publication of Individuals, Who Have Chosen To Expatriate”, or renounce US citizenship, in the 2nd quarter of 2019. The US Internal Revenue Service document, that includes persons who have renounced US citizenship during the period between March and June 2019 was published yesterday (August 15). However, Gotabaya Rajapaksa who claimed he renounced his US citizenship in April this year, was not included in this document. UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardene commented on the matter saying that if his name was not included in the list that the only thing that could happen his name will not be nominated for the elections. The parliamentarian says that in this case the Department of Immigration and Emigration should also be sued since Gotabaya Rajapaksa had renounced his US citizenship, made a new passport and even come back to Sri Lanka. The complaint was filed by the Puravesi Balaya Organization at the Police Headquarters requesting for an investigation to be carried out where Gotabaya Rajapaksa while portraying himself as a foreign national had obtained a new National Identity Card and used it to obtain a new passport. Police media spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekera said the complaint was directed to the CCD to ascertain if there was any basis in investigating it. Meanwhile, MP Udaya Gammanpila says that since it is a certificate issued by the US State Department which could be considered as the final proof of renunciation of the US Citizenship and not a publication. He further says that the document including the list of persons who have chosen to renounce citizenship is not considered as the final proof. He also says that on the 3rd of May this year that the US State Department issued a certificate certifying his renouncing of citizenship which is currently in the possession of Gotabaya Rajapaksa himself and therefore that his name not being included in this list is not of relevance. MP Gammanpila calling out on the factions lodging complaints against Gotabaya says that all of them can lodge a complaint after he assumes duties as the President of the country. Also addressing the issue, Convenor of the National Peoples Council, Chameera Perera said that the SLPP is talented in securing fake passports and that similar to MP Wimal Weerawansa's fake passport that Gotabaya's passport should also be checked. He claimed that the government is clearly at fault for having issued a fake passport to Gotabaya Rajapaksa and requested the government to look into the matter. He further requested the subject Minister and the Immigration and Emigration Department to look into this matter as this could be a national issue. UPFA MP S. M. Chandrasena states that although certain individuals demand that they show all the documents of proof that it will only be submitted to the Elections Commission when the proper time comes.