Colombo (News 1st): A group of individuals representing the Presidential Candidate of the New Democratic Front Sajith Premadasa, led by Ajith P. Perera made an inquiry from the National Elections Commission about Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s citizenship. Ajith P. Perera presented a letter to the National Election Commission today which consists of several questions against the statements made by President’s Counsel Attorney-at-Law Ali Sabry.

The questions are…

• Has Gotabaya Rajapaksa presented the relevant documents of his citizenship to the National Election Commission?
• If so, when were they presented?
• Has the documents relevant to the renunciation of Gotabaya’s U.S. Citizenship been proved genuine?
• If so what is the conclusion of that examination?
• Can copies of those documents be obtained?
• What action will be taken if the statements made by the lawyers are proved to be false?

Non-cabinet Minister Ajith P. Perera said the Chairman of the National Election Commission has very clearly stated that no documents in relation to the Sri Lankan Citizenship or the U.S. Citizenship of Gotabaya Rajapaksa have been presented before the Commission. He added that NEC chairman noted that they have not looked into the authenticity of those documents which are said to be produced and they have no way of doing so as well.

Minister Perera went onto note that the Chairman and the members of the National Elections Commission said that therefore the statements made by the lawyers at the media briefing yesterday are false. He said it is a grave mistake to make such statements without presenting such a document on the day of submitting the nominations. He pointed out that saying that the authenticity of those documents has been looked in to and that the National Elections Commission was satisfied with it is a complete lie as well.

When journalists pointed out that a similar case filed in court was dismissed, Minister Perera noted that they were not behind the cases that were dismissed. However, he went onto state that when the Supreme Court took up the case, the court did not come to the conclusion that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a citizen of Sri Lanka. He said the case has been dismissed and the decision of the Supreme Court clearly states that the CID has the right to continue investigations regarding this incident and that the decision of the case will in no manner hinder the activities of the CID.

Ajith P. Perera noted that there is a legal right to continue the investigation of obtaining a fraudulent certificate and the file that contains information of Gotabaya obtaining the Sri Lankan Citizenship is missing. He noted that there is a problem if the procedure of renouncing his U.S. Citizenship has not been completed.

Meanwhile, Presidential Candidate Milroy Fernando also inquired into the matter from the elections commission today (November 11). He noted that the Elections Commissioner said that he hasn’t yet received the documents. Fernando noted that he regrets the fact that a president’s counsel said that all of these documents were given to the elections commission. He pointed out that the elections commissioner has not been given any documents. He said it is hilarious that these kinds of candidates have been fielded and that a president’s counsel is making these kinds of statements to deceive the people of the country.

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