Serious questions have been raised over the citizenship status of former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who has now been announced as the Presidential candidate of the SLPP.

The latest confusion came with the revelation that Rajapaksa's name is not included in the list of US citizens who renounced their citizenship in June, 2019.

According to the SLPP, Rajapaksa has already received a certificate from the US authorities confirming the renunciation of his citizenship. Rajapaksa has obtained a new passport from the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Sri Lanka in May.

"We were told Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had completed all documentation wrt renunciation of his US citizenship. I for one believed it. But in the last hour or so we are told that his name is NOT in the list as at 30 June. So, yes, I am confused. Need more info," Minister Harsha de Silva tweeted.

Responding to the Minister, UPFA Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa asked him not to worry about the SLPP candidate.

"If his documentation is the issue, will present if needed. Worry abt governing the country for next few months, to salvage frm this sorry state. Also perhaps worry about who you can put forward to contest," Rajapaksa said.