Sri Lanka has awarded Dual Citizenship to 2,000 expatriates at an event held at Temple Trees under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe addressing the occasion said the present government has taken measures to create a country devoid of racism and religious extremism and welcomed the expatriates who had left the island due to political and communal reasons. He said many people were compelled to leave the country due to educational and economic reasons. The Prime Minister also noted that those who did not become dual citizens could also help the country from outside.