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The battle for preferential votes at the parliamentary election is on, and candidates have come up with some catchy phrases so that the voters remember them. The Sunday Times put together a list of some of the catchier ones.

A Kandy District candidate contesting under the New Democratic Front (NDF) with the gas cylinder as its symbol opted to use a phrase often used by the opposition for their campaign.

‘The phrase ‘Ranil-Rajapaksa’ used on election stages referred to the links between former Presidents Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa.

But this candidate’s name being Ranil Rajapaksha, he used the wordings ‘Purudu namak Aluth kenek’ (familiar name, but a new person).

There were others too who were equally creative. One such campaign was done by actor-turned-politician Ranjan Ramanayake, who launched a song “Un Okkoma Yaluwo Malli,” which means all politicians are friends and therefore no one would catch the corrupt thieves. Paradoxically for him, his opponents challenge him to reveal the identity of the people who were funding his campaign.

Though former President Wickeremesinghe is not contesting the parliamentary election, his popular name of Ranil was used by youth candidate Ranil Willadarage who is contesting from Colombo, as his name-sake did. He is simply asking the voters to vote for “Ranil”.

The National People’s Power (NPP) has been using the Singlish phrase; “Mathi sabaya clean karamu” (let’s clean the Parliament) in its campaign.

However, former Minister Vajira Abeywardena responding to the phrase said, “Why would we need the Malimawa (NPP) to clean up Parliament? A cleaning service company already has that job.”

Meanwhile, former MP Premalal Jayasekara, contesting from the Ratnapura District on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ticket, has continually used his nickname “Choka Malli” throughout his campaign. Mr. Jayasekara has a habit of using his nickname whenever he is contesting elections. His posters, banners and even newspaper advertisements were printed with his nickname, not his real name.

Even though Prof. Charitha Herath, contesting from the Kurunegala district on the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) ticket, has used his name for his campaign, he is campaigning under slogans; “Parlimenthuwe inna watina Charithayak (a character who deserves to be in Parliament),” and “Mahathma Deshapalanye Charitha Sahathikaya (a character certificate of gentlemanly politics)” to connect with his name.

Another SJB candidate contesting from Weligama in the south is appealing to voters who cast their votes for the NPP at the last election, “Giyapara Malimawata me para Weligamata” (last time Malimawa won, but this time let us make Weligama win).

Yet another candidate, Jagath Kumara, also had a rather extended phrase: Yukthiya saha sadharanathwaya wenuwen, Colamba dinana manussakama (for justice and fairness, humanitarianism that wins Colombo).

Kalutara District New Democratic Front candidate and onetime Minister Vidura Wickremenayake, son of former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, had advertised on social media his slogan; “Urumaya rakumata dura dun Minisa” (The man who took the burden of protecting the heritage) by connecting his name Vidura with the slogan.

Ranjan’s ramblings about his new party

Before he was unceremoniously ousted from Parliament after being found guilty and sentenced to prison for contempt of court, actor-turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake garnered widespread public support due to his image as an anti-corruption campaigner in the legislature.

One of Mr. Ramanayake’s most famous quips was “Un okkoma yaaluwo, malli” (They are all friends, brother). He used the phrase liberally to drive home the perception that despite their seemingly unbridgeable political and ideological differences, all politicians are essentially in league with each other and will always look out for each other. Mr. Ramanayake used the phrase to claim that things will not change no matter who comes to power unless they are complete outsiders, such as himself.

Ranjan Ramanayake waves at supporters at a political rally in Puttalam amid questions from rival politicians about who is funding his party's campaign. Pic by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe

Mr. Ramanayake is contesting the upcoming parliamentary election from a completely new party he leads—the United Democratic Voice (UDV)—under the symbol of the microphone. He claims he chose to contest from an entirely new party as voters did not want to see him contest from any of the established parties, given they were all part of the corrupt politics he is fighting against.

This week posters with Mr. Ramanayake’s quote started appearing in parts of Colombo, pasted next to or over posters of candidates from various other political parties. Photographs of these posters were also posted on social media. Many naturally attributed the stunt to Mr. Ramanayake and his party. However, the UDV issued a notice on Thursday insisting it had nothing to do with the posters, though it added that the party “firmly believes” in the view expressed by the phrase made famous by its leader.

Vijay the latest politician to project Lankan issues for political gain

Actor-turned-politico Vijay

It is no secret that in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India, any topic that links to a “Sri Lankan issue” is a valid reason for regional political parties to seek political gain.

The latest to enter the fray to take up the “Sri Lankan issue” is star actor turned politician Vijay who inaugurated his party, the Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). He presided over an executive committee meeting last Sunday.

Criticising the Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) government’s push for ‘one nation, one election’ as anti-democratic, the one-time actor whose films crossed billion rupees in box offices demanded the revival of the ‘Sri Lankan Tamils issue’ in the state’s political agenda and asserted that the Centre had no authority to interfere in Tamil Nadu’s matters.

At its executive committee meeting, the TVK called for a referendum among Sri Lankan Tamils to achieve a ‘permanent solution’ to their issues, aligning with the Tamil Nadu State Assembly’s unanimous resolution in 2011 during J. Jayalalithaa’s tenure as Chief Minister. The party urged that the Union government’s foreign policy regarding Sri Lanka should be formulated in consultation with the Tamil Nadu government.

The party also highlighted what it considered attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and claimed that it intensified after what it called the “ceding” of the Kachchativu islet to Sri Lanka. In the process, the new politician displayed his ignorance of international agreements between sovereign states.

Mandy Gunasekera tipped for top environment job under Trump

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to weigh in his options for his new Cabinet, one name that is being floated around to lead the country’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is Mandy Gunasekara. She previously served in the EPA during Trump’s first term and was Chief of Staff to the Agency’s Administrator. She is now thought to be eyeing the agency’s top job as administrator.

Mandy Gunasekera

Mandy, short for Amanda—McGrevey, is the daughter of a US Air Force Colonel and a registered nurse, both from the Southern State of Mississippi. She is married to Surya Gunasekara, son of a Sri Lankan father and an American mother.

US political digital newspaper “Politico” reports that Ms. Gunasekara has authored the EPA chapter of the Project 2025 plan, which calls for a dramatic overhaul of the agency’s structure and slashes work on clean air and fossil fuel regulation. A proponent of shuttering agencies and cutting the federal workforce, she also floated an EPA relocation to Texas or Florida in her book released in October this year. Trump allies have said that Ms. Gunasekara is eyeing the top EPA position in a second Trump administration. But she has been coy about her ambitions, telling Politico’s E&E News in August that she is not interested in the job and wants to stay in her home in Mississippi.

 President tells ex-presidents to apply for housing facilities

The topic of ‘perks and privileges’ enjoyed by previous heads of state has become a major controversy in recent times, but the latest declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake might put a full stop to it.

Speaking at a National Peoples’ Power (NPP) election rally this week, President Dissanayake said if any of the previous heads of state required housing benefits, they should make an application in writing to the relevant state institutions.

The application request, the President asserted, was similar to the process where citizens make an application to the government when they are unable to secure housing.

The application form requires details of monthly income and employment of spouse and children to be considered for a state-funded housing facility.

Goa tourism down in dumps, told to look at Sri Lanka

In recent weeks, India’s popular tourist destination, the state of Goa, came under criticism by local travellers and foreign tourists for lack of tourism infrastructure development compared with other international tourist destinations such as Sri Lanka.

This week, Goa’s Department of Tourism issued a statement saying that comparing a state in India to a foreign country like Sri Lanka may yield an “inaccurate perspective.”

While acknowledging the state government’s challenges to developing the tourism sector with “limited-scheduled international connectivity,” the department said it was working closely with the central government to relook at point of call and additional seat entitlement for Goa to establish “more robust international connections.”.

The rebuttal came after several posts on platform X, formerly known as Twitter . The posts claimed that Goa was “down in the dumps,” with many tourists preferring to visit Sri Lanka, Thailand, or Vietnam instead. One post also blamed the lack of adequate public transport, “a local taxi mafia,” and overpriced hotel accommodations.

Sri Lanka Tourism better watch out. Some of these drawbacks are also prevalent in this country.