New scheme to formalize the grant of Dual Citizenship
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- Published on Thursday, 17 May 2012 13:58
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The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to amend the Citizenship Act No.18 of 1948 and the Immigration and Emigration Act No.20 of 1948 with a view to formalizing the grant of Dual Citizenship by the Establishment of the "Overseas Sri Lankans" Scheme.
This was disclosed by the Acting Minister of Mass Media and Information Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene at the Cabinet Decisions announcing Media Conference held at the Information Department today. He said that the proposal made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and approved by the Cabinet will make room for pre- examination to satisfy that a person applying for dual citizenship in Sri Lanka has fulfilled the requirements to make him eligible for such dual citizenship.
The main amendments to be made will touch on the following:
o to establish a new scheme called "Overseas Sri Lankans" with a view to affording facilities to persons who have terminated citizenship in Sri Lanka, and their under aged children to enter Sri Lanka and to stay in Sri Lanka; and
o to afford the opportunity of applying for dual citizenship to those who have registered under the above scheme, only after being subjected to a pre- examination after being placed in a state of probation for a period of 05 years.
o Provisions will also be made to exempt persons from the requirement of registration under the new scheme when the President is of the opinion that granting of dual citizenship in Sri Lanka for persons who have terminated their citizenship in Sri Lanka will be beneficial to national interest.
