SL to offer dual citizenships

17 May 2012 08:14 am - 28 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The government is to amend the Immigration and Emigration Act of Sri Lanka in order to offer dual citizenships, a minister said.

Minister Laxman Yapa Abeywardana told the media today that the Government is to establish a new scheme called ‘overseas Sri Lankans’ to formalize the grant of dual citizenship to Lankans who have terminated citizenship.

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Comments - 28

alisten Thursday, 17 May 2012 11:02 AM

Government need money and may be going to loose elections so they want to go abroad with all our money and have the citizenship.

Burgher boy Tuesday, 04 December 2012 03:04 PM

Great to know that a new program has been formulated but when will it be implemented?
Does anyone really know?

gayan cabral Sunday, 24 June 2012 10:21 AM

I think finally "they" have been cleared of war crimes and hence its time to bring it back and make some money....

Singaporean Friday, 18 May 2012 09:34 AM

Thank you Roshan. You have right thoughts. I am a former Sri Lankan now a Singaporean, retired and want to live in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately Singapore does not allow Dual Citizenship. Will Sri Lanka offer residence on some special arrangement without me having to renounce Singapore citizenship? Can you put in a word to the minister?

Shace-UK Friday, 18 May 2012 09:09 AM

My daughter is born in wales, having a welsh birth certificate but she is holding a sri lankan passport, and also classified as sri lankan and not british. you dont need to wait till 18 years, as long as you dont take the foreign passport you are classified as sri lankan....the choice is yours mate!!!

sandy Friday, 18 May 2012 04:00 AM

This is good.

Siripala Friday, 18 May 2012 03:18 AM

What about citizenship for foreign spouses living in Sri Lanka after 5 years as in the UK?

Enid Friday, 18 May 2012 02:01 AM

I am not sure what LOC is, but if a child with parents of Sri Lankan origin, registers it's birth at the Sri Lankan Embassy, The child is offered Sri Lankan citizenship at 18 years.

Sense Friday, 18 May 2012 01:27 AM

They will also bring in money and create more jobs. It won't be so gloomy as you put it here..

Roshan Silva Friday, 18 May 2012 12:08 AM

Yes!! this is a good question Appuhamy, as I have personal friends (both Sinhala, tamils)living abroad, who want to retire in Sri Lanka for-good with their well earned money abroad as they cannot be away from their Mother Land; which is understandable.
Thank you for raising this point Appu' & I hope the Govt. will realise the contribution of our oversease experties, knowledge, experiance and their Wealth. Thanks.

Kalu Sudda Thursday, 17 May 2012 07:59 PM

I hope it is for a fee like 1% Tax on earned income.lol

Puravasiya Thursday, 17 May 2012 11:14 AM

This is not something new. This is only a reinstaterment of the scheme which was existed for many years.

Imran Hussein Thursday, 17 May 2012 11:01 AM

Good suggestion mate. But this is also a sensible move to start with. Well done.

Achari Thursday, 17 May 2012 08:30 AM

More Chinese entertainments ahead.

Anu Thursday, 17 May 2012 10:48 AM

Thank the govt. for its sensible move.

Senna Thursday, 17 May 2012 09:53 AM

Well said. Good move by the govnt.

Manel Fernando Thursday, 17 May 2012 09:52 AM

I hope they won't make it so expensive that people will have to mortgage their houses for this.

Obviously there will be a charge but please don't make it too excessive.

Thank you

Ceylonese Thursday, 17 May 2012 09:50 AM

Are they ‘overseas Sri Lankans’?

rappd Thursday, 17 May 2012 09:35 AM

Very, very bad idea. These foreign lankan do not contibute anything to SL or the people of SL. they earn their dollars, punds etc and buy assets in SL at SL prices.

In the future original Sri lankans living in SL will be sleeping on streets and foreigners will be owning land and properties.

Essentially these foreignes will be having the cake and eating the cake.

Pawlpakse Thursday, 17 May 2012 09:25 AM

Good for politicians. They can retire in any part of the world wth the mass wealth they have accumulated while still maintaining the SL citizenship.

lankashantha Thursday, 17 May 2012 09:14 AM

Cash strapped Government's another step to earn money. Don't thin it comes with banana money. But will be a hefty sum.

Lakshan Thursday, 17 May 2012 09:11 AM

Finally some good news. Have been waiting for this for a long time and am thinking of moving to Sri Lanka.

Eranga Thursday, 17 May 2012 08:56 AM

Thanks God!.. This has given so much grief over last 1.5 years.. Why on earth they took so long to do this?. This created one hell of a trouble with student who studied overseas (Australia, Canada, NZ, USA) and decided to obtain overseas citizenships with an intention of getting Sri Lankan dual-citizenship.. Finally thanks for re-establishing it back..

Avenger Thursday, 17 May 2012 08:53 AM

Good move! some repatriates do want to come back some day and live like citizens

NADARAJAH SETHURUPAN Thursday, 17 May 2012 08:45 AM

Not dual citizenship, people need The Srilankan Origin Card (LOC) program endeavors to provide eligible Srilankan/Blood relative living abroad with unprecedented incentives to get back to their roots, while ensuring that the motherland remains tightly integrated with expatriates worldwide.

Ranawiruwa Thursday, 17 May 2012 08:41 AM

GREAT MOVE!!! THANK YOU

Appuhamy Thursday, 17 May 2012 08:39 AM

Can they also contest the Elections ?

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SL to offer dual citizenships

Comments - 28

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