The government passes the Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Indian Origin Act (Act No.35 of 2003). The Act grants citizenship to persons of Indian origin residing in Sri Lanka since October 1964 and their descendants.
Source
Statelessness in Sri Lanka, UNHCR 2007.
Opinion
“It effectively solved the problem of statelessness amongst Hill Tamils in Sri Lanka. Those de facto stateless persons who held Indian passports (acquired under one of the previous citizenship agreements) but had remained in Sri Lanka, were required to sign a “special declaration” stating their intention to voluntarily acquire Sri Lankan citizenship and thus rescind their right to Indian citizenship (as no dual nationality is permitted). In cases of de jure statelessness, where individuals possessed neither an Indian or a Sri Lankan passport, no written declaration was required.” UNHCR 2007.
Related events
15 November 1948
1949
29 October 1964
1982
1988
