{"id":205347,"date":"2019-10-08T17:27:17","date_gmt":"2019-10-08T11:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=205347"},"modified":"2019-10-12T16:17:40","modified_gmt":"2019-10-12T10:47:40","slug":"dual-citizenship-misadventure-unnecessary-confusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/dual-citizenship-misadventure-unnecessary-confusion\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Dual-Citizenship\u2019 Misadventure & Unnecessary Confusion!\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Laksiri Fernando<\/a> –<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dr. Laksiri Fernando<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cEveryone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor deny the right to change his nationality<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Article 15, Universal Declaration of Human Rights\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Instead of politically campaigning against, and explaining to the people, the possible dangers of the return of the \u2018Rajapaksa family rule,\u2019 two civil society activists opted to challenge the citizenship of the SLPP candidate, Gotabaya Rajapaksa<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, at the Appeal Court at the last moment, without allowing those matters to be settled at the Independent Election Commission on the nominations day, if there were any doubts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This infantile misadventure is quite unfortunate and unnecessary in respect of democracy, democratic elections, civil society role in the political system. The fallout unfortunately might disadvantage the forces against GR candidacy and strengthen the SLPP constituency, at least in the immediate context.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a Voltaireian spirit, \u2018one could oppose very strongly GR candidacy for the presidency, but one should not oppose his right to contest the election.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Appeal Court unanimously dismissed the writ application<\/span><\/strong><\/a> after listening to the arguments on both sides, for four consecutive days. What became reprehensible was the jeering and behavior of GR supporters in the courtroom when the verdict was announced. It is also reported that one of the applicants of the writ order has already been threatened and intimidated. Extremism naturally breeds extremism. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Background<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

The background to the adventure perhaps was the rumors floated and the so-called \u2018whistle blowing\u2019 on the assumed partiality of the Chairperson of the Election Commission, a couple of weeks before. The news was that \u2018Mahinda Deshapriya Pledges Allegiance to Gota<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u2019 (Colombo Telegraph, 7 September 2019). The same report alleged that one of the Commission members, Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole, himself had expressed doubts about the renouncement of GR\u2019s US citizenship. It further reported that the same member of the Commission also had expressed doubts about the dual citizenship certificate of GR issued in November 2005.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course if you don\u2019t trust the independence of the Election Commission or the Chairperson, then you have to go before the Courts. Two alleged grounds before the courts were (1) that GR has not properly renounced his US citizenship and (2) more questionably or complicatedly, that his Dual Citizenship Certificate signed by the then President, Mahinda Rajapaksa (his brother of course) is not valid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the first matter I have no competence, information or interest to talk about, but on the second matter, I have some information and interest, given my own dual citizenship. My attention was first drawn on this matter when a reputed \u2018independent\u2019 journalist, Rajan Phillips, wrote on \u2018Plenary Powers and Citizenship<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u2019 (Colombo Telegraph, 3 October 2019) bashing the executive\u00a0 <\/span>presidential system, as he does, for every evil under the sun. This was quite irrational apart from emotional. It may be that plenary power is something a defense lawyer had mentioned at the court case, but it is not from any plenary power that a President signs a dual citizenship certificate, according to what I have in my possession. It derived from the Constitution before the 19th<\/sup> Amendment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My Evidence<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

My evidence is my own Dual Citizenship Certificate, a copy attached below, signed by the then President, Chandrika Kumaratunga!\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If I may abstract what it contains in general terms, both the declaration and the authority in approving a dual citizenship certificate, it is as follows. This is Sample 1.<\/p>\n

Sample 1: 1995-2005\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Dual Citizenship Certificate\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Declaration under Section 19 (2)\/(3) of the Citizenship Act\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

WHEREAS \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..of \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026has applied for a declaration under section 19 (2) (3) of the Citizenship Act (Chapter 349) that he\/she has resumed\/retained the status of a citizen of Sr Lanka although he\/she has acquired\/is acquiring the citizenship of a country other than Sri Lanka alleging with respect to himself\/herself the particulars set out below:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And whereas the President is satisfied that the said \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026has complied with the requirements of the said section 19 (2)\/(3).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now Therefore, pursuance of the powers conferred on the said section 19 (2)\/(3) read with section 44 of the Constitution the President declares that from the date of this declaration \/with effect from \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026. the said has resumes\/retains the status of a citizen of Sri Lanka.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In witness whereof I have hereinto subscribed by name,<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

Secretary President \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Date: \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ministry of Defense, Colombo 1\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It appears to me that the printed format that was used in 1995 must have been the same format used in November 2005 for Gotabaya Rajapaksa. This was just after the tenure of the President Chandrika Kumaratunga. It must have also been the format perhaps used until the 19th<\/sup> Amendment in May 2015, when most of the powers of the President, including the grant of the dual citizenship, were curtailed or taken away. Let us not get into that argument here, whether it was correct or not.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the text, the President is the approving and the declaration authority, of dual citizenships under Section (2) (3) of the Citizenship Act, as the Minister of Defense and in accordance with Article 44 (2) of the Constitution before the 19th<\/sup> Amendment. It is utterly wrong and hilarious to interpret and question the situation prior to that amendment, on the basis of the 19th<\/sup> Amendment, or on one\u2019s whims and fancies, whoever the person under question. This is infantile disorder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the format, of course the President does not necessarily need to sign the certificate although he\/she can. The Signature of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defense is sufficient, \u2018in witness whereof.\u2019 As my certificate shows, an Assistant Secretary has signed for the Secretary. But having realized that it is not sufficient, the person who was coordinating the citizenship matters perhaps wanted to get the signature of the President. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunate Circumstances\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, the questioning of President Mahinda Rajapaksa signing the certificate of Gotabaya Rajapaksa (although his brother), does not at all appear rational to say the least. The questioning of the speed, the circumstances or the process may raise some political or moral questions, both ways, but not serious legal questions, in my opinion from the beginning when I came to know the matter. I am not saying this after the verdict.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the impetus for the questioning came from some revelations or \u2018whistleblowing\u2019 of Prof Hoole, it is quite unfortunate. In the article which I mentioned before, Ratnajeevan had given the following information to the Colombo Telegraph.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile looking at GR\u2019s Dual Citizenship Certificate on the 26th I asked him if he had signed his own certificate as Defence Secretary, and he nonchalantly replied that his predecessor had signed it. However, his predecessor could not have been Defence Secretary on 30 Nov. I let it pass<\/i>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The CT report also stated \u201cHowever none of the three commissioners scrutinized the documents or indicated much interest in the affair.\u201d It is quite possible that GR gave a dead-rope to Ratnajeevan \u2018nonchalantly\u2019! What else one would say if you ask \u2018did you sign your own certificate!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After the 19<\/b>th<\/sup><\/b> Amendment?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, good things can emerge through bad deeds. \u2018Every cloud has a silver lining,\u2019 the saying goes. At least we can turn things in that direction. The case filed by the two civil society activists has generated some debate about the authority, procedure and conditions under which the dual citizenships are being awarded in our motherland. That would have been a good initiative if it were started before or without unduly politicizing the issue or targeting a single person, however reprehensible his role has been in office in the past.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t have very many examples but can produced a format under which the dual citizenships were being awarded since 2015. It may be that it is now improved or changed, but this is the specimen I can produce at the moment. This is Sample 2. For confidentiality, I cannot produce the original or reveal the name of the person.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sample 2: After 2015<\/b><\/p>\n

Dual Citizenship Certificate\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Declaration under Section 19 (3) of the Citizenship Act<\/b>,<\/p>\n

Where as (b) \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026 of (a) \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026has applied for declaration under Section 19 (3) of the Citizenship Act, (Chapter 349) that she has retained the status of a citizen of Sri Lanka although she is acquiring the citizenship of a country other than Sri Lanka alleging with respect to herself the particulars set out overleaf.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And whereas the Minister is satisfied that the said \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.. has compiled with the requirements of the said Section 19 (3).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now therefore, in pursuance of the powers conferred on him by the said section 19 (3) of the citizenship Act No. 18 of 1948 as amended by Act No. 45 of 1987 the Minister declares that with effect from (c ) \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.the said (b) \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.. has retained the status of a citizen of Sri Lanka.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In witness where of I have subscribed by name.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

Secretary\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Minister\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Date: \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

There are obvious \u2018minor\u2019 errors like (a) coming after (b), \u2018whereas\u2019 or \u2018whereof\u2019 spelled as two words (where as and where of), and having only one gender, admirably however all as \u2018she.\u2019 Therefore my male friend who showed me the certificate goes as \u2018she.\u2019 We all do make mistakes in writing, but this is an official state document. In fairness, I must say, it is possible that (a) (b) confusion is due to the Sinhala text translated into English.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It appears even before the 19th<\/sup> Amendment, but after the change in January 2015, it was not necessarily the President who authorized the dual citizenships but a Minister. (It is also possible that he also was issuing dual citizenship certificates). This may be considered a great achievement by some. But the question is the Declaration or the format that was used does not say what Minister. It is not printed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The certificate I have seen was signed by John Amaratunga. What ? Yes, John Amaratunga!\u00a0<\/span>He has signed with his seal as the Minister of Public Order and Christian Affairs in May 2015. His Secretary of the Ministry also has signed the document, but I don\u2019t want to reveal the name as he must be just a public servant, if not a political appointee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

There can be few simple conclusions. (1) Politically motivated legal challenges are reprehensible without proper legal or moral basis. The JVP has already rejected Rajitha Senaratne\u2019s insinuations about legal challenges on similar grounds as \u2018madness.\u2019 (2) Even for your worst political enemy, there should be some decency in dealing with political or other issues. (3) Those who advocate democracy should follow those principles first, like understanding human rights of everyone to have citizenship or change it. (4) There are serious questions about civil society organizations and activists based on the above discussed legal adventure and similar matters. (5) Independence of civil society activities from partisan politics and\/or groups\/cliques is of paramount importance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(6) There are obvious defects and infirmities in the procedures and authority of issuing dual citizenship<\/span><\/strong><\/a> certificates, before and after 2015. These should be soon rectified and regularized with transparency. (7) People who obtain dual citizenship, after paying so much of money, should have a decent document (nicely printed!) without ambiguities. All dual citizenship certificates that I have seen so far are extremely poor documents issued before or after 2015.\u00a0 <\/span>Sri Lankans with dual citizenship should not be embarrassed of having to produce a pitiable document to countries that they live in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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