Because of Geetha’s Swiss dual citizenship status likely hood of sacrificing the parliament seat
It is reported the with Geetha Kumarasinghe’s dual citizenship status with Switzerland she is likely to sacrifice her seat in parliament. It is learnt that when she got married to a Swiss national some years ago she had also become a citizen of Switzerland.In this regard she has not yet produced any valid documents to the parliament.
In terms of the provisions in the constitution she cannot hold a seat in parliament as she possesses a
dual citizenship. There has been a petition against her in this regard.The attorney at law JC Weliamuna who had appeared for the petitioner in the appeal court.The petition had been considered in the appeal courts in front of the Judges panel of the appeal court comprising of Vijith Malalgoda and Preethi Padman Surasena.It is learnt that Geetha Kumarasinghe had made a request from the related authorities of Switzerland on the 25th of August last year to delete her name from the citizenship of Switzerland to which the authorities in Switzerland had not given her a reply in this regard.
Hence she still possess the status of dual citizenship.In terms of the parliamentary Act numbers 89 and 91 of the constitution no one could hold a seat as a member of parliament in the event he or she possess dual citizenship. Such person cannot .submit nomination papers for a general election.
As she still holds dual citizenship a writ command is to be issued to unseat her parliamentary seat it is learnt. Further investigation in this case is to be heard on the 24th October.