Gota’s alleged US renunciation certificate circulating in social media a forgery

30 July 2019 12:29 pm - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A certificate distributed yesterday purporting to show that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has renounced his US citizenship has been debunked as a forgery, the Daily Mirror learns.

The purported Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States was distributed widely on social media groups yesterday morning by parties close to the former Defence Secretary’s emerging presidential election campaign.

It stated that Rajapaksa had become a US citizen on March 13, 2003, and renounced his US citizenship at the US Embassy on July 5, 2019. The certificate carried a red seal dated July 26, 2019, stating “Approved American Embassy Colombo,” with the signature of a US official named Joel Fifield.

However, Rajapaksa was not in Sri Lanka on July 5. He was in Singapore purportedly recovering from open-heart surgery. Official records viewed by the Daily Mirror also demonstrate that Rajapaksa became a US citizen on January 31, 2003, not in March 2003.

Details of a passport given on the purported certificate are also false. Rajapaksa’s US passport was issued on October 2012, according to official records, not July 2012 as stated on the certificate.

The clearest evidence of forgery was that the certificate very closely resembled a sample certificate on the Wikipedia internet encyclopedia, including the name and signature of the purported US official Joel Fifield, who was apparently a consular officer in Paraguay.

The forged document also carries Rajapaksa’s passport number and its issuing date which is the same given in the sample certificate on the Wikipedia internet encyclopedia.

Obtaining an authentic certificate of renunciation or confirmation letter is essential for Rajapaksa’s presidential bid, as the Sri Lankan constitution bars citizens of a foreign country from being elected to the presidency or to parliament. (Nirmala Kannangara)

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Comments - 10

SL Tuesday, 30 July 2019 12:38 PM

we are skilled in many things including forgery!

Saeed Mohamed Tuesday, 30 July 2019 12:42 PM

If it is a forgery then he has to be arrested immediately and charges filed against him.

slay Tuesday, 30 July 2019 12:47 PM

What length the Pohottuwa lackeys will go to fool the masses

Ashy Tuesday, 30 July 2019 01:13 PM

Am sure this would have been circulated by Mr Clean Gamana Pillai

Lion Tuesday, 30 July 2019 01:26 PM

Pudanakotama kapi yaka

Gamman Tuesday, 30 July 2019 01:26 PM

Udaya Gammanpila may be having the original authentic certificate as he commented on Gota's US citizenship a few days back.

anil fernando Tuesday, 30 July 2019 02:02 PM

It is only an acknowledgement of his handing over documents to relinquish US citizenship. The Embassy here cannot cancel his citizenship.

Sudath Kannangara Tuesday, 30 July 2019 02:13 PM

Last update as per Federal register, published by Internal revenue 13/05/2019 " quarterly publication of US citizens who have chosen to expatriate as required by section 6039G" the name of Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was not included. Let's wait till next quarterly publication

Don Tuesday, 30 July 2019 04:58 PM

Ask how to get a proper passport

Concerned Citizen Tuesday, 30 July 2019 05:03 PM

No wonder the 'learned (sic) person' who is spreading this message is already allegedly duped a foreigner (Australian ?) over a princely sum and the case is pending. One should wonder how low our ordinary citizens 'intelligence' is for people like these can play with. !

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Gota’s alleged US renunciation certificate circulating in social media a forgery

Comments - 10

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