As enacted

Contents

Act of Parliament · As enacted

Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Indian Origin Act 2003

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

Official translationFrom Department of Government Printing, unchanged

s 1Short title

This Act may be cited as the Grant of Citizenship to

Persons of Indian Origin Act, No. 35 of 2003.

s 2Grant of status of citizen of Sri Lanka to certain persons

Any person of Indian origin, who, on the date of the coming into operation of this Act,—

(a)

has been a permanent resident of Sri Lanka since

October 30, 1964 ; or

(b)

is a descendent, resident in Sri Lanka, of a person who has been a permanent resident of Sri Lanka since

October 30, 1964, shall be granted the status of a citizen of Sri Lanka, with effect from such date and be entitled, in like manner and to the same extent, to all the rights and privileges to which a citizen of Sri Lanka is entitled to, by law :

Provided however, the grant of the status of a citizen of Sri

Lanka to a permanent resident, who on the date of coming into operation of this Act, holds an Indian Passport or other similar document, shall be effective only on his forwarding to the Commissioner a declaration in the special form of declaration set out in the Schedule, stating his intention to voluntarily acquire citizenship of Sri Lanka, and upon such declaration being acknowledged by the Commissioner in writing.

s 3Rights and liabilities on acquisition of status of citizen of Sri Lanka

Every person, who by virtue of the provisions of section 2, acquires the status of citizen of Sri Lanka, shall—

(a)

in addition to being entitled to the rights and privileges of a citizen of Sri Lanka, as recognised by law, be subject to the provisions relating to deprivation and loss of citizenship and renunciation of citizenship, in like manner and to the same extent as would be applicable to any citizen of Sri Lanka ; and

(b)

from and after the coming into operation of this Act, be deemed to have renounced all rights to the civil and political status which such person may be entitled to, or would have been entitled to, under any law in force in the country of origin of such person or such person’s parent, ancestor or husband, as the case may be, but for the promulgation of this

Act ; and

(c)

in all matters relating to, or connected with, status, personal rights, duties and holding of property in Sri

Lanka, be subject to the relevent laws of Sri Lanka.

s 4Application for certificate of Citizenship

(1)

Any person who becomes a citizen of Sri Lanka by virtue of the provisions of section 2, may if he so desires, apply to the Commissioner for a Certificate of Citizenship, substantially in the Form set out in Schedule A to this Act.

Every application shall be accompanied by the general form of declaration made under oath in the form set out in the same Schedule.

(2)

The Commissioner shall within sixty days from the date of receipt by him of an application under subsection (1), issue to the applicant a Certificate, which shall be substantially in the form set out in Schedule B to this Act.

(3)

The Commissioner shall issue a Certificate under this section only to persons who have not been issued with a Certificate under the Indo-Ceylon Agreement

(Implementation) Act, No. 14 of 1967 and the Grant of

Citizenship to Stateless Persons (Special Provisions) Act,

No. 39 of 1988.

(4)

No person shall be required, other than by a Court of competent jurisdiction, to produce the Certificate issued in terms of subsection (1) for any purpose whatsoever and an affidavit shall be tendered in proof thereof, which affidavit shall be acceptable as prima facie proof thereof.