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Dual citizenship to be granted to Sri Lankan expatriates
| Published: | 25 Mar at 3 PM |
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Tagged: Currency, France, Property Abroad, USA, Australia, UK, New Zealand, Canada, Citizenship, India, Switzerland, Emigration, England
A minister from the government said that, from Monday 23rd March, expatriate Sri Lankans would be able gain dual citizenship due to a new administrative procedure. Those able to take advantage of the new procedure will be those who have emigrated to Canada, the UK, the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, France and Switzerland.
On Monday, John Amaratunga , the Minister of Public Order, Disaster Management and Christian Affairs, said there would be a Rs. 50,000 – 250,000 fee for the application procedure.
Those wanting to be granted dual citizenship must own immovable property valued at least 2.5 million in Sri Lanka and be in possession of educational or professional qualifications.
Individuals who have maintained 2.5 million Rupees as deposits at a Central Bank of Sri Lanka approved bank will also have the opportunity to apply for dual citizenship. Others who are eligible for the dual citizenship applications include those who have the ability to open an account with a Commercial Bank approved by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, a US$ 25,000 or more Resident Foreign Currency Account or a Non Resident Foreign Account, which all have to be maintained for at least three years.
In January 2011, applications for dual citizenship stopped being processed so that new stringent criteria could be drafted and in December 2014, the previous government’s cabinet granted approval for the process to be reinstated.
The Minister said that the present government, after taking inquires of affiliated institutes into consideration, introduced an effective procedure.
On Monday, John Amaratunga , the Minister of Public Order, Disaster Management and Christian Affairs, said there would be a Rs. 50,000 – 250,000 fee for the application procedure.
Those wanting to be granted dual citizenship must own immovable property valued at least 2.5 million in Sri Lanka and be in possession of educational or professional qualifications.
Individuals who have maintained 2.5 million Rupees as deposits at a Central Bank of Sri Lanka approved bank will also have the opportunity to apply for dual citizenship. Others who are eligible for the dual citizenship applications include those who have the ability to open an account with a Commercial Bank approved by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, a US$ 25,000 or more Resident Foreign Currency Account or a Non Resident Foreign Account, which all have to be maintained for at least three years.
In January 2011, applications for dual citizenship stopped being processed so that new stringent criteria could be drafted and in December 2014, the previous government’s cabinet granted approval for the process to be reinstated.
The Minister said that the present government, after taking inquires of affiliated institutes into consideration, introduced an effective procedure.
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