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Know your candidates: New names and old
View(s):A total of 690 nomination lists from political parties and independent groups were handed over for the 2024 general elections to the Election Commission (EC) on Friday (11). According to the EC, 74 nominations that had been submitted were rejected.
Many of the major recognised political parties have submitted nominations to contest in all of the country’s 22 electoral districts. The nomination lists include veteran former MPs, but there are also plenty of newcomers who will be vying to become first-time parliamentarians.
Under the current electoral system, 196 MPs will be elected directly to Parliament while 29 others will be appointed through the National List on the basis of the total number of votes polled by the respective political parties or independent groups at the national level.
Colombo District
In the Colombo district, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya leads the nomination list from the National People’s Power (NPP). Other prominent NPP candidates include former MP Lakshman Nipunaarachchi. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa will contest from the SJB in the Colombo district and the party’s other candidates include former MPs Dr. Harsha De Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, S.M. Marikkar and Hirunika Premachandra. Former Ministers Susil Premajayantha and Sagala Rathnayake meanwhile, will be contesting under the ‘Gas Cylinder’ symbol of the New Democratic Front (NDF). The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will also contest in Colombo and will be led by former Minister Sarath Weerasekara. Ex-Minister Udaya Gammanpila and former Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath will be among the candidates from the Sarvajana Balaya Alliance led by entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera.
Gampaha District
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath will contest from the NPP in the Gampaha district. Ceylon Teachers Service Union General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe too will contest on the NPP ticket in Gampaha. Former MP and the party’s Gampaha District Leader Harshana Rajakaruna will lead the SJB team with former SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardana also in the fray. United National Party Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene will contest under the NDF. Former State Ministers Prasanna Ranaweera and Indika Anuruddha will contest from the SLPP. Sarvajana Balaya Leader Dilith Jayaweera will be contesting from Gampaha as well. Actor turned former MP Ranjan Ramanayake too is contesting the Gampaha District under his new party, United Democratic Voice.
Kalutara District
In the Kalutara district, the NPP is led by onetime MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa and also includes the NPP General Secretary Dr Nihal Abeysinghe. The SJB list is led by former MP Ajith P. Perera. The NDF list is led by Dr Rajitha Senaratne and includes former Ministers Vidura Wickremanayake and Rohitha Abeygunawardena and ex-State Minister Piyal Nishantha. The SLPP list is led by former MP and TV presenter Sanjeewa Edirimanna.
Kandy District
Five former MPs are among the candidates contesting the Kandy district from the SJB. They are Tissa Attanayake, Rauf Hakeem, Abdul Haleem, Wasantha Yapa Bandara and Earl Gunasekara. Veteran politician and former Minister Lakshman Kiriella will not be contesting the election but his daughter Chamindranee Kiriella is on the list of SJB candidates. The NPP’s candidates are led by district leader K.D. Lal Kantha. Former MPs Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Anuradha Jayaratne are contesting from the NDF.
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- Colombo District Secretariat: All abuzz with activity on Friday
Handing over nominations at the Colombo Secretariat: NPP, SJB, NDF and, Sarvajana Balaya Alliance and
the SLPP. Pix by Priyanka Samaraweera
Matale District
Former MP Rohini Kaviratne is the district leader of the SJB in Matale and is joined in the candidate list by the former state ministers Ranjith and Wasantha Aluwihare. Former state minister Rohana Dissanayake leads the NDF and the party list also includes former state minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon. The SLPP is led by former Dambulla Mayor Jaliya Opatha. The NPP leader in the district is former provincial council member Gamagedara Dissanayake.
Nuwara Eliya District
In Nuwara Eliya, the NDF have fielded the candidates under the Elephant symbol. The Ceylon Workers Congress led by Jeevan Thondaman is accordingly contesting under the NDF. A former UNP MP K.K. Piyadasa who contested the recently concluded presidential election is also an NDF candidate. Former Minister late Renuka Herath’s daughter Hiranya and former Minister S.B. Dissanayake’s brother Jayalath Dissanayake are in the SJB list along with V. Radhakrishnan and Palani Digambaram. The NPP is led by a teacher, Manjula Suraweera.
Galle District
Former ministers Dr Ramesh Pathirana and Manusha Nanayakkara are among candidates contesting from the NDF in the Galle district. The SJB has three former MPs who are contesting; Gayantha Karunathilake, Chandima Weerakkody and Bandulalal Bandarigoda. Former MPs Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva and MP Isuru Dodangoda are contesting the district from the SLPP.
Matara District
In the Matara district, former MP Sunil Handunnetti is leading the NPP while former MPs Buddhika Pathirana and Niroshana Premaratne are among the SJB candidates. The NDF is led by former Minister Kanchana Wijesekara and also has Pasanda Yapa Abeywardena, son of former minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena among its candidates. Former MP Nipuna Ranawaka is contesting on the SLPP ticket while another former MP, Weerasumana Weerasinghe is a candidate from the Sarvajana Balaya.
Hambantota District
Former state minister D.V. Chanaka is contesting the Hambantota district from the SLPP while former MPs Dilip Wedaarachchi and Upul Galappatti are contesting from the SJB. The NPP group is led by former MP Nihal Galappatti. The NDF has former minister Mahinda Amaraweera and former Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe among its candidates.
Jaffna District
In the Jaffna district, ITAK is led by ex-MP S. Shiritharan, who was elected as the new leader of the party earlier this year. Also contesting from Jaffna is former MP and President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran. Among others in the list are lawyer S. Ilankovan, great-grandson of S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, founder of ITAK, and former Jaffna Mayor and ex-Northern PC member Immanuel Arnold. The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) is led by ex-MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam. Former MP and PLOTE Leader D. Siddarthan is contesting under the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA). Also on the DTNA list is Sasikala Raviraj, wife of late ITAK MP N. Raviraj who was assassinated in 2008. The SLPP is also contesting in Jaffna and is led by its politburo member Geethanath Cassilingham.
Vanni District
ITAK candidates in the Vanni district include Dr. P. Sathiyalingam, a medical doctor and ITAK Secretary. ACMC Leader Rishad Bathiudeen is also contesting.
Batticaloa District
In Batticaloa, the ITAK list includes ex-MPs Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and Gnanamuthu Srineshan. Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, who contested the last general election while in prison and won, is leading his party Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP).
Digamadulla District
The Digamadulla district will have the highest number (64) of political parties and independent groups contesting at this year’s election. Among the leading candidates for ITAK are ex-MP T. Kalaiyarasan and K. Kodeswaran. The SLMC is led by former MP Faizal Cassim.
Trincomalee District
In the Trincomalee district, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) backed by the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) led by former MP Kadiravel Shanmugam is contesting from the district while the SJB list has former MPs Imran Maharoof and M.S Thowfeek, National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) on its list. Former SLPP MP Kapila Nuwan Athukorale has opted to contest from Sarvajana Balaya. The NDF list is being led by former All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) member Abdulla Maharoof .
One of the special features in the district is that a group of former LTTE cadres who have gone through rehabilitation have fielded candidates.
Kurunegala District
The NDF Kurunegala district team is led by Anura Priyadharshana Yapa. Former MPs Shantha Bandara and Asanka Nawaratne are also contesting from the NDF. Former MP Ashok Abeysinghe leads the SJB. The list also includes ex-MPs J.C. Alawathuwala, Nalin Bandara, Thushara Indunil, Dayasiri Jayasekara and Dr Charitha Herath. The NPP is led by trade unionist and ex-MP Namal Karunaratne. The NPP list also includes K.M. Ananda Wijepala, who was recently appointed as Private Secretary to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Former MPs Johnston Fernando, Samanpriya Herath and Sumith Udukumbura are contesting from the SLPP.
Puttalam District
Former MP Hector Appuhamy is the SJB’s district leader in Puttalam while former state minister Arundika Fernando leads the NDF. Former state minister Ashoka Priyantha and former MPs Chinthaka Amal Mayadunne and Jagath Priyankara are also contesting from the NDF. Chamari Priyanka, the widow of late state minister Sanath Nishantha leads the SLPP. The NPP is led by Prof. Chandana Abeyratne.
Anuradhapura District
In Anuradhapura district, the SJB is led by its district leader and former MP Rohana Bandara. Former MPs MP K.P.S. Kumarasiri and Chandima Gamage are also on the list. Former MP Wasantha Samarasinghe leads the NPP in the district while former Parliamentarians Duminda Dissanayake, S.M. Chandrasena and Ishak Rahuman are being fielded by the NDF.
Polonnaruwa District
SJB Polonnaruwa district leader and former MP Kins Nelson is the most prominent face in the party’s candidate list. Former MP Jagath Samarawickrama is contesting from the NDF and is joined by former North Central Province Chief Minister Peshala Jayaratne.
Badulla District
Former Ministers Nimal Siripala De Silva and Harin Fernando are contesting from the NDF in the Badulla district while the SJB list has former MPs Chaminda Wijesiri, Nayana Wasalatilaka and ex- state Minister Dilan Perera in addition to Lakshman Senerviratne who has been out of Parliament for some time. The SLPP list is led by ex-MP Thenuka Vidanagamage. The NPP is led by one time Parliamentarian Samantha Vidyaratna. Former State Minister Vadivel Suresh is contesting under the United Democratic Voice associated with Actor Ranjan Ramanayake. Former MP Aravindha Kumar is contesting under the Eksath Jathika Sandanaya.
Monaragala District
Former Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa leads the NDF group in the Monaragala district while the SJB is led by former Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri. Former MP Shasheendra Rajapaksa is contesting from the SLPP.
Ratnapura District
All main parties are contesting in the Ratnapura district, with the NPP list led by Shantha Padamukara, an executive member of the NPP. The SJB is led by Hesha Vithanage and includes former MP Varuna Liyanage. The NDF has former Minister Pavithra Wanniaarachchi, former state minister Janaka Wakkumbura and former MP Muditha Soysa on the list. The SLPP leader in the district is former state minister Premalal Jayasekara.
Kegalle District
Former MP Kabir Hashim leads the SJB in Kegalle district and former MP Sujith Sanjaya Perera is also contesting from the party. Former state minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya is the district leader for the NDF, with former state minister Tharaka Balasuriya and ex-MP Dushmantha Mithrapala also contesting. Ex-MP Rajika Wickramasinghe is contesting from the Sarvajana Balaya.
Compiled by Sandun Jayawardana, S. Rubatheesan, Thusitha Kumara De Silva (Kalutara), D.G. Sugathapala (Galle), Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk (Matara), Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi (Hambantota), Shane Seneviratne (Kandy), Shelton Hettiarachchi (Nuwara Eliya), Prasad Rukmal (Badulla), Janoor Kitchilan (Kurunegala), Sumanasiri Gunathilake (Monaragala), Dayarathna Embogama (Anuradhapura), Mahesh Keerthirathne (Matale), A.G. Wickramasinghe (Ratnapura), Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe (Puttalam) and Amadoru Amarajeewa (Trincomalee), Deva Athiran (Batticaloa) and N.Thayalan (Jaffna)
The national lists made public
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ll major recognised political parties contesting the 2024 general election have released the official lists of names they propose to appoint to the 29 National List seats that will be allocated to each party based on the number of votes they obtain at the national level.
While a large number of veteran former MPs have chosen not to contest this year’s election, some of them still stand a chance of being appointed to Parliament through the National List as their names have been included in the official lists submitted by their parties.
Following are the names proposed by each main political party for the National List seats:
National People’s Power
Bimal Rathnayake, Wasantha Subasinghe, Anura Karunathilake, Upali Pannilage, Eranga Udesh Weeraratne, Aruna Jayasekara, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku, Punya Sri Kumara Jayakody, Ramalingam K. Chandrasekar, Najith Indika, Sugath Thilakaratne, Lakmali Hemachandra, Sunil Kumara Gamage, Gamini Rathnayake, Ruwan Chaminda Ranasinghe, Sugath Wasantha De Silva, Keerthi Welisarage, Chamila Kumudu Peiris, Abdul Fatha Mohamed Ikram, Ranjan Jayalal Perera, Mohamed Nazeer Ikram, Martin Nelson, Romesh Mohan De Mel, Benita Prishanthi Hettithanthri, Pubudu Nuwan Samaraweera, Sarath Lal Perera, Anura Hettigoda Gamage, Hemathilaka Gamage
Samagi Jana Balawegaya
Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, Dullas Alahapperuma, Sagaran Vijayandiran, Nizam Kariapper, Sujeewa Senasinghe, G. L. Peiris, Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Upul Jayasuriya, Mahim Mendis, Upul Bandara Dissanayake, Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa, Lihini Fernando, Ravindra Samaraweera, Athulasiri Samarakoon, Kennedy Degaulle Gunawardana, Lalith Prasanna Perera, Vishaka Kamalee Suriyabandara, Mahesh Senanayake, Ravi Jayawardena, Thisath Devapriya Bandara Wijegunawardena, Lankeshwara Mithrapala, Palanivelu Parameshwaran, Balakrishnan Sivanesan, Ganapathy Naguleswaran, Chandima Wijegunawardana, Mohamed Hashim Mohamed Roomy, Muhammadu Ismail Muttu Muhammadu, Indika Bandaranayake
New Democratic Front
Dinesh Gunawardena, Shyamila Perera, Mohamed Faizer Mustapha, Tiran Alles, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Jayantha Weerasinghe, Senthil Thondaman, Suren Raghavan, Ronald Chithranjan Perera, Ravi Karunanayake, Thalatha Athukorala, Kanishka Suranimala Rajapaksha, Muhammed Mustapha Anwar, Nissanka Nanayakkara, Sagala Abeywickrama, Siripala Amarasinghe, Veerakumara Dissanayake, Rashdan Rahuman, Nimalka Fernando, Damayanthi Jayasekara, Newton Peiris, Leslie Devendra, Mahinda Senarath Bandara, Adambawwa Uthuma Lebbe, Mohamed Musammil, Wellalage Bandula, Sirimasiri Hapuaarachchi, Piumi Senarath Samarathunga, Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
Namal Rajapaksa, Gamini Lokuge, C. B. Ratnayake, Ven.Uthurawala Dhammarathana Thera, Tissa Vitharana, Jayantha Ketagoda, Sagara Kariyawasam, Thisakutti Arachchi, Ven. Tebuwana Piyananda Thera, Muhammad Fadil Marjan Asmi, Renuka Perera, Wimal Geegange, W. Dayarathna, Anusha Damayanthi, Jagath Wellawatta, Wasantha Handapangoda, Viraj Perera, Athula Priyadarshana De Silva, Manjula Wellalage, Ravihara Kulathunga, Damith Hettihewa, Ranjith Bandara, Vidura Perera, Pasan Kasthuri Fernando, Sarath Keerthirathna, Sudath Rohana, Mahinda Pathirana, Rathna Dharmapriya Daya Pathirana, Samantha Indika
Sarvajana Balaya
Hemakumara Nanayakkara, Geeganage Weerasinghe, Ranjana Kumara Senavirathna, Jayananda Waleboda Pituwala Kankanmge, Roshan Harsha Fernando, Nalaka Perera, Arumugam Periyandi Kanapathi Pille, Roshan Mahesh James Gunathilaka, Punchinilame Meegaswaththe, Sameera Prasanna Somarathna, Liyanage Tudor Weerasinghe, Nandasiri Weerasinghe, Tisli Jagath Kodithuwakku, Waruna Chandrakeerthi Hettiarachchi, Ruwan Bandara Rukman Thilakarathna, Thanuja Dhammika Rathmale, Ranuka Sampath Marasinghe, Shehan Sandaruwan Ambeypitiya, Suriyabandara Dissanayaka, Mohammad Hasan, Thilina Peiris, Bupathi Yashashri Bandara Kahathuduwa, Nilendra Deshapriya Fernando, Priyantha Pradeep Kumara Mapalagama, Danindu Withanawasam, Prasanna Amarathunga, Janendra Ranasinghe, Buddhika Ekanayaka, Ruwani Thisera
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