Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Saturday, 16 November 2024 01:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
A large number of powerful former Government and Opposition MPs, many of whom have been long-standing figures in Parliament, faced major setbacks in the 2024 Parliamentary Election, failing to secure their seats due to the National People’s Power (NPP) party’s landslide victory.
Notably, all Cabinet Ministers from former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government who contested in the election were among those unseated.
In Colombo, United National Party (UNP) stalwart Sagala Ratnayake was unable to secure a seat under the National Democratic Front (NDF) ticket, while former Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake was also denied the chance to enter Parliament.
Former Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Vidura Wickramanayake and Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara also failed to secure a Parliamentary seat.
Among others who will not be returning to Parliament from previous regime include; Manusha Nanayakkara and Dr. Ramesh Pathirana who both contested from the Galle Electoral District under the National Democratic Front (NDF) banner.
Former Minister Harin Fernando, who joined Wickremesinghe’s Government having crossed over from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) lost out to former MP Chamara Sampath who secured the only seat obtained by the NDF in Badulla.
Veteran politician and former Minister Mahinda Amaraweera who contested from the Hambantota District also failed to secure a seat in Parliament. Former Minister Kanchana Wijesekara who was in charge of resolving Sri Lanka’s energy crisis also suffered a similar fate in the Matara Electoral District.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP and Rajapaksa family member Nipuna Ranawaka was also defeated in Matara while his cousin Shasheendra Rajapaksa suffered a crushing loss after contesting in his strong hold, the Monaragala Electoral District.
Former State Ministers Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and Rohana Dissanayaka who contested from the Matale District were unable to secure seats in Parliament as well.
The Sri Lankan Parliament will also not see the return of many other prominent MPs including Nimal Siripala de Silva, Roshan Ranasinghe, Duminda Dissanayake, S.M. Chandrasena, Johnston Fernando, Pvaithra Wanniarachchi, Arundika Fernando, Premalal Jayasekara, Udaya Gammanpila, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Piyal Nishantha, Prasanna Ranaweera, Channa Jayasumana and Nimal Lansa.
Many powerful Opposition MPs also suffered significant losses. These include Douglas Devananda and M.A. Sumanthiran in the North as well as Buddhika Pathirana, Hirunika Premachandra, Eran Wickramaratne, Earl Gunasekara, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, and Tissa Attanayake in the South.
