DEFEATED EX-MINISTER ATTEMPTING TO GRAB MY SEAT: GEETHA

Galle District UPFA MP Geetha Kumarasinghe said yesterday the dual citizenship allegation was a conspiracy hatched by a former minister who was defeated at the general election in an effort to enter parliament.

She said she contested the general election after relinquishing her Switzerland citizenship.

“I say with responsibility that I am not a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and Switzerland. I cancelled my dual citizenship before the election,” Ms. Kumarasinghe said.

She said she was the first woman who voluntarily cancelled the Switzerland citizenship which was a huge privilege for her.

“I came to help the people by sacrificing a huge privilege I had. Switzerland is one of the best countries to live in. No one in history has cancelled a Swiss citizenship like I have done. I did it despite objections from my husband and daughter. I cried a lot on that day. I even gave up my career as an artiste,” she said.

Ms. Kumarasinghe said she had all the legal documents to prove her cancellation of Switzerland citizenship and that she was 100 per cent sure of securing her MP's post.

“I am the only woman MP in the Southern province who was elected to parliament with 65, 000 preferential votes. I sacrificed all my privileges to help the people. What wrong have I done to face such allegations,” she asked.

Ms. Kumarasinghe said the law was initially introduced to prevent Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa contesting the general election and added that she would file a case demanding compensations for the embarassment caused to her by making false allegations. She alleged that a certain minister who has Swiss citizenship by marrying a Swiss lady was closely working with the president while she was being harassed.

“Am I being treated like this for supporting former president Mahinda Rajapaksa,” she asked.

She would file a case demanding compensations for the embarassment caused to her by making false allegations No one in history has cancelled a Swiss citizenship like I have done. I did it despite objections from my husband and daughter. I say with responsibility that I am not a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and Switzerland. I cancelled my dual citizenship before the election. I have documents to prove it