Treasury Secretary not a dual citizen, Minister Jayatissa

Colombo, May 5 (Daily Mirror) - Dismissing growing speculation, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma was not a dual citizen during his time in public office.

Recent media reports had raised concerns over whether Suriyapperuma possessed both Sri Lankan and Australian citizenship, and whether he had formally renounced his Australian citizenship at the time of taking oath as a Member of Parliament or had only submitted an application for renunciation.

Addressing journalists, Cabinet Spokesperson Jayatissa said Suriyapperuma was not a dual citizen during his tenure as a Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister, or as Secretary to the Ministry of Finance.

“He is not a dual citizen. If he had been a dual citizen while serving in those positions, legal action could have been taken against him. I state with responsibility that he was not a dual citizen when he held these roles,” Jayatissa said.