Political parties are yet to nominate their candidates for the upcoming Western Provincial Council elections. However, posters of prominent politicians have been put up across towns in the Western Province even before nominations have been called.
UPFA General Secretary and senior minister Susil Premajayantha said the names of candidates would be released on February 19. The party finished accepting applications yesterday. Among the applicants are two upcountry Tamils, one from Jaffna and three Muslims.
Thilanga Sumathipala is tipped to be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the Western Province from the UPFA, The Sunday Times learns.
Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa told The Sunday Times that he is not contesting as the Chief Ministerial candidate and that he has no reason to contest.
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| Poster blitz:Aspirants trying to catch the public eye at every turn. Pic. by Sanka Vidanagama |
Petroleum Minister A. H. M. Fowzie’s son, Nauzer Fowzie and his nephew and former UNP deputy mayor Azath Salley’s brother Reyyaz Salley, former Western Province Council member M. Manzil are also contesting in the Western province, The Sunday Times learns.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that his party has received a large number of applications.
The names of the candidates who will be contesting in the elections will be released after a Working Committee meeting on February 17.
”We hope to put forward young people from the provinces who are also well known,” he said.
JVP Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said that his party is yet to decide who will contest for the Chief Minister’s post.
A four member selection committee has been appointed and applications have been received. The committee is in the process of selecting the candidates, he said. “We have identified a few who are likely to be selected as candidates including Varuna Rajapaksa, Sunil Watagala, U. A. Nandaseeli and Mohamed Nufley,” he said, adding that candidates, who will include women, will be chosen in a way that they represent all communities. The names of the candidates will be released on February 18, he said.
Meanwhile, Ceylon Teacher’s Union president Joseph Stalin said that trade unions would take legal action against the appointment of a chairman of an independent body as a member of a Government committee. Salaries and Cadres Commission Chairman Saliya Matthew was appointed a member of the UPFA nominations committee.
Mr. Stalin raised a question as to how independent is the Salaries and Cadres commission when its Chairman is appointed to a Government committee. “As he is member of the nominations committee, the independency of the commission is challenged. Therefore he should resign immediately and make the commission an independent body. If he does not resign we will take action,” he said.
The Sunday Times also learns that former Chief Minister Reginold Cooray has taken part in a nominations interview on Thursday. |
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