Parliament doors closed for Geetha Kumarasinghe after SC ruling

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has barred Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe from entering the Parliament premises   following her disqualification as a lawmaker by the Supreme Court on the grounds she hold dual citizenship.

 Parliament sources said the Speaker’s directive came after the decision of the Supreme Court was communicated to Parliament

The Elections Commission too has been informed that Kumarasinghe should be considered as having vacated her post as MP after her disqualification.

The Supreme Court on Nov 1 declared that according to Article 91/1/1/13, a person holding dual citizenship, at the time of nomination and taking oaths could not function as a Member of Parliament.

 The judgment by five judges dismissed with cost the appeal filed by Kumarasinghe against a writ of quo warrant issued by the Court of Appeal, disqualifying her as a Member of Parliament due to a breach of Article 91/1/1/13 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court also ordered the Court Registrar to immediately inform Secretary General of Parliament of the decision that Kumarasinghe cannot hold a post as an MP.

(Chandani Kirinde)