Citizenship and presidential-eligibility writ challenge
Current status of the Citizenship and presidential-eligibility writ challenge
Civil society petitioners Gamini Viyangoda and Chandraguptha Thenuwara sought a Court of Appeal writ challenging the validity of Rajapaksa's dual/Sri Lankan citizenship documentation, and consequently his eligibility to contest the 2019 presidential election, alleging irregularities in how his citizenship was reinstated in 2005. On 4 Oct 2019 a three-judge Court of Appeal bench unanimously dismissed the petition as without merit, holding that then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa had constitutional authority to sign his dual-citizenship certificate in Nov 2005. This was public-law/eligibility litigation, not a criminal prosecution.
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Next hearing / due
- No upcoming hearing announced
Citizenship and presidential-eligibility writ challenge timeline
- 4 October 2019
Case Dismissed
The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the petition challenging Rajapaksa's citizenship and presidential eligibility, clearing him to contest the November 2019 presidential election.
Court: Court of Appeal
Sources (2)