Paranawithana to replace Thalatha in Parliament 

Eksath Janaraja Peramuna Politburo Chairperson Karunarathna Paranawithana is expected to replace outgoing Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Thalatha Athukorala in Parliament.

Karunarathna Paranawithana contested from the Ratnapura District under the SJB ticket in the 2020 Parliamentary elections but did not secure a seat, receiving 42,314 preferential votes. As the next candidate on the SJB preferential list, he is likely to be appointed to Thalatha Athukorala’s seat.

The 56-year-old is a former MP and served as Deputy Minister of Provincial Council and Local Government. He previously worked as Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media before resigning to contest in the 2015 Parliamentary elections as part of the UNP-led alliance.

An alumnus of Aloysius College, Ratnapura, he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Colombo.