Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Saturday Nov 23, 2024
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The Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) has confirmed that 690 accepted political parties and independent groups will contest in the 22 electoral districts for the upcoming General Election, scheduled for 14 November. The announcement followed the conclusion of the nomination submission period, which ended at 12.00 p.m. yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake revealed that a total of 764 nomination papers were received, but 74 were rejected due to errors in submissions. “The 74 nomination papers were rejected as they were not submitted according to the manner set out in Section 15 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981,” Ratnayake said. He further emphasised that parties or groups whose papers were rejected could seek legal redress if they believed the rejections were not in line with the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981.
The largest number of political parties and groups—64 in total—will contest in the Digamadulla electoral district, while the Polonnaruwa and Moneragala districts recorded the lowest submissions, with only 15 parties and groups entering the race in each district.
Ratnayake also disclosed that independent groups have already been assigned their symbols by district returning officers, and the ECSL will issue preferential numbers to all candidates within the next week.
The National People’s Power (NPP), under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, submitted its nomination papers for the Colombo Electoral District yesterday, presenting a robust line-up of candidates.
Among the key candidates are former MP Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, former Municipal Councillor Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Eranga Gunasekara, and other professionals and academics. Prime Minister Amarasuriya expressed confidence that her party would secure more than 133 seats in the upcoming election, ensuring a transformative force in the new parliament. The NPP has also submitted nominations in all other electoral districts, signifying their broad political ambitions.
Minister Vijitha Herath is set to contest from the Gampaha district, joined by trade unionist Mahinda Jayasinghe, Senior Consultant to the President on Economic Affairs Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, and Prof. Krishantha Silva Abeyratne. Meanwhile, former MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa will be contesting from the Kalutara district. Additionally, former MPs K.D. Lalkantha, Samantha Vidyarathna, Sunil Handunetti, and Nihal Galpaththi will vie for seats in the Kandy, Badulla, Matara, and Hambantota districts, respectively.
In contrast, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) faced internal controversies as they completed their nominations. Former SJB MP and District Leader Harshana Rajakaruna submitted the party’s nominations for the Gampaha district, but the exclusion of actress Damitha Abeyratne from the Ratnapura district list has caused friction. Abeyratne accused Ratnapura District Leader Hesha Withanage of dishonesty, claiming she was assured of her candidacy until the last moment. Withanage defended the decision, citing party policies that exclude candidates from outside a district. This internal disagreement has led to tensions within the SJB, with General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara reportedly avoiding Abeyratne’s calls.
The New Democratic Front (NDF), an alliance formed in support of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, submitted its nomination papers for the Colombo district under the leadership of Dr. Susil Premajayantha. Accompanied by United National Party (UNP) national organiser Sagala Ratnayake and former SLPP MP Attorney Premanath C. Dolawatta, the NDF aims to secure a strong position in the upcoming election. Ratnayake himself will contest in the Colombo district, while Kalutara district nominations were handed over by former MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, who announced that Kumara Welgama’s son would contest in his father’s place following his recent passing. In Gampaha, former Minister Ruwan Wijewardane led the NDF submission. Notably absent was Prasanna Ranatunge, a district heavyweight, who has opted to sit out this election. Wijewardane said Ranatunge had initially intended to contest but had changed his mind at the eleventh hour.
A downsized Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has submitted its nominations for the Colombo and other key districts, including Hambantota. Notably, no prominent member of the Rajapaksa family, except for former MP Nipuna Ranawaka, is contesting in the upcoming election. The party also submitted its nomination papers for the Kalutara district, with district leader Sanjeewa Edirimanna handling the submissions.
The Sarvajana Balaya alliance, led by businessman Dilith Jayaweera, also submitted its nominations for the Colombo district. Former MP Udaya Gammanpila, accompanied by former Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath, handed over the nomination papers. In the Kalutara district, Roshan Ranasinghe submitted nominations on behalf of the party, while nominations for the Polonnaruwa and Kandy districts were submitted by Daham Sirisena and Dilum Amunugama, respectively.
The newly-formed United Democratic Voice party, led by former MP Ranjan Ramanayake, also entered the race, submitting nominations for the Kalutara district. Former cricketer T.M. Dilshan submitted the nomination papers. The party will also contest in the Gampaha, Matale, and Galle districts.
Political activity in the North and East was also marked by several prominent parties submitting their nominations. Both the NPP and SJB will contest the Vavuniya district, while the UNP will run under the elephant symbol in the Mannar and Mullaitivu districts. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), led by Rauff Hakeem, will contest alongside the SJB in seven districts but run independently in Ampara and Batticaloa.
The deadline for submitting national lists also ended yesterday, with all major parties presenting their candidates for the 29 seats.
The NPP’s national list includes 29 candidates from a broad range of backgrounds, including former MP Bimal Ratnayake, Managing Director of Emerald Sri Lanka Abdul Mohamed Ikram, Prof. Wasantha Subasinghe, and disability rights activist Sugath Wasantha de Silva, a visually impaired graduate. However, the inclusion of trade unionist Ranjan Jayalal, who was previously interdicted from the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for alleged sabotage, has sparked criticism.
However, a notable trend in this election has been the decision of several previously influential politicians to bypass the direct electoral contest in favour of entering Parliament through the national list route, rather than competing at the district level. Many others also recently expressed their intentions to retire from politics altogether.
The SJB’s national list features several prominent figures, including party General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Dr. G.L. Peiris, Dullas Alahapperuma, Sujeewa Senasinghe, and Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle.
Similarly, the NDF’s list includes key figures like former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Faiszer Musthapha PC, and Ravi Karunanayake, former Minister Tiran Alles, former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene, Senthil Thondaman, Thalatha Athukorala, Suren Raghavan, Weerakumara Dissanayake.
Namal Rajapaksa topped the SLPP’s national list. Others included SLPP party bigwigs Sagara Kariyawasam, Gamini Lokuge, C. B. Ratnayake, Jayantha Ketagoda, and Janaka Thisakutti Arachchi. The list also includes Podujana Education Services Union President Wasantha Hadapangoda who was attacked during the citizen struggle May 9 incident. She was also arrested as a suspect for having instigated violence against the protestors on the day.
