Stripped of her Parliamentary seat by a Court of Appeal ruling, UPFA Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe vowed to fight back through legal means, saying she will file an appeal against the verdict. In an interview with the Sunday Observer, the former actress-turned politician charged that this is a major blow to the people’s sovereignty, noting she was the only female MP elected from the clean votes of the people of Galle district to represent the entire Province.
The Court of Appeal on Wednesday (May 3) ruled that MP Kumarasinghe is not entitled to hold the post of a Member of Parliament as she had contested the election while being a dual citizen. Five voters of the Galle district had filed a petition in the Court of Appeal requesting Court to declare MP Kumarasinghe ineligible to remain as a Parliamentarian while holding dual citizenship of both Switzerland and Sri Lanka.
MP Kumarasinghe told the Sunday Observer that she is not a citizen of any other country, but only a Sri Lankan citizen. My Swiss citizenship was renounced a long time ago. “But there was a reason why I couldn’t give the letter. After the legal matter ends, I will reveal why I did that. At the moment, I think I should not disclose those details.”
“I can’t make any comment on the court ruling. I urge my supporters and those who voted for me not to be distressed by this turn of events as I cannot be removed from my Parliamentary seat until all the legal options are exhausted.
It is not only me, all the people who voted for me are very disappointed over this issue. It is completely different when somebody comes to Parliament with the people’s votes. It is not like someone coming to Parliament from the National List. I have been elected to Parliament by the people’s vote. Therefore, what has happened is very unfair.”
“I am going to appeal to the Supreme Court. At present, my lawyers are working on it. I have also handed over letters to the Speaker, Secretary General of Parliament and the Elections Commissioner that I would make an appeal to the Supreme Court in respect of the Court of Appeal decision to deprive me of my parliamentary seat.”
Asked whether there were any other MPs who are dual citizens, MP Kumarasinghe said, not only former MPs, even some members of the present Parliament have taken citizenship of other countries. “But they use the Sri Lankan passport to show the world they are Sri Lankans. When you obtain citizenship of another country, your Sri Lankan citizenship is automatically barred. They are not even Sri Lankan citizens, yet they are Ministers. They are using all the powers and privileges of Parliament. I would like to tell them after my case is over, they will also have to be ready to face the consequences.”
“Actually, I have been unfairly targeted because I am an active member of the Joint Opposition and a vociferous critic of the Government. The man behind my case is former UPFA Galle District MP Piyasena Gamage.
He lost the last Parliamentary Election, and now he is exploring various ways and means to oust me and come to Parliament. But, he should talk to his conscience and see whether it is correct and fair. I was elected to Parliament through the people’s vote.”
MP Kumarasinghe said: “I am the only woman Parliamentarian who was elected to Parliament from the South. So I have to represent the South.
The Government always says they will allow more women to come into politics and become Parliamentarians. How many women Parliamentarians do we have in Sri Lanka?
They should be ashamed that they are trying to take people who lost elections into Parliament and oust the people who won the elections through the ballot.“
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Geetha meets Speaker
UPFA Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe on Thursday (May 4) informed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that she would move the Supreme Court in respect of the Court of Appeal decision to deprive her of her parliamentary seat for holding dual citizenship of Sri Lanka and Switzerland at the time she sought nomination to contest the Galle District on the UPFA ticket.
Kumarasinghe met Speaker Jayasuriya in the wake of defeated UPFA candidate Piyasena Gamage declaring his readiness to fill the vacancy created by the former actress being disqualified by the Court.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament on Thursday (May 4) that he had not been informed of the Appeal Court decision as regards MP Kumarasinghe. The Speaker said so in answer to a question raised by UNP Kurunegala District MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha who demanded to know how MP Kumarasinghe is still in Parliament as the Appeal Court had disqualified her from being an MP as she held dual citizenship at the time she sought nominations to contest the last General Election.
Meanwhile, JVP Gampaha District Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath on Thursday (May 4) asked Parliament to furnish the names of the other Parliamentarians who currently hold dual citizenship. The MP pointed out that MP Geetha Kumarasinghe is not the only MP holding dual citizenship as per the recent comment by MP Kumarasinghe and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. MP Kumarasinghe had told the media that she is aware of a Government Minister who holds citizenship in Switzerland while Minister Amaraweera too had told the media that another MP in the Joint Opposition holds US citizenship. MP Herath told Parliament that the people would like to know who these politicians are.
MP Herath pointed out there cannot be one law for MP Kumarasinghe and another for a Minister. According to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, any individual holding dual citizenship is not eligible to enter Parliament. The law should be equal to everybody. Therefore, the Government must reveal the names of all who hold dual citizenship, he urged.
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Geetha meets Speaker
Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Neil Iddawala told the Sunday Observer that Parliament has sought the advice of the Attorney General regarding the Court of Appeal ruling given on UPFA Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe. “Therefore, we are waiting for the AG’s advice. After Monday (May 8), we would be able to make a comment.” He said, officially, they have not been notified, and MP Kumarasinghe has not informed that she will make an appeal to the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal verdict disqualifying her from holding a parliamentary seat.