Gota has documentary proof of renouncing US citizenship: Gammanpila

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has sufficient evidence to prove that he had renounced the US citizenship while the omission of his name in the list published as at June 30, 2019 is of no importance as per the law of that country, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila said yesterday. “According to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which enforces the law in the US with regard to renunciation of US citizenship, the document one could use to prove that he has renounced the US citizenship is not the list which is made public but the certificate issued by the US State Department,” Gammanpila said. “The omission of Mr. Rajapaksa’s name from the list of those who renounced US citizenship as at June 30 this year, is an issue which the US government should deal with” , he added.

Addressing a news briefing, he said many were attempting to spread the rumour that Mr. Rajapaksa was not eligible to contest at the presidential election as he had not yet renounced US citizenship.

He affirmed that former Defence Secretary had the certificate proving he had renounced US citizenship.

He said the US State Department had confirmed on May 3, 2019 that Mr. Rajapaksa had renounced US citizenship.

“It was also certified on April 17, 2019 that Mr Rajapaksa was no longer a US citizen,” Gammanpila said. According to a document issued by the US Internal Revenue Service, the name of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate was not in the list of those who renounced US citizenship as at June 30 this year.

Earlier, it was reported that Mr.rajapaksa received the final document from the US State Department over renunciation of his US Citizenship in May this year.