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| Sunday, 22 February 2004 |
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Politics |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Election 2004: Who will be on the National List? by a staff reporter With nominations ending on Tuesday, speculations have been rife as to who will be contesting the elections, who will be on the national list and who will be left out in the political wilderness. Speculations are specially centred on the two major parties, which according to political sources finalised their lists yesterday evening. According to political sources, SLFP National Organiser Anuruddha Ratwatte is likely to be completely out of election 2004, with his name omitted from both the list of candidates and the national list. Also out of contention is former Galle District MP Richard Pathirana, who political sources claim had requested the party leadership to free him of all political activities. However, D.M.Jayaratne is expected to head the list for Kandy. Former PA Foreign Minister and current Media Minister is confirmed as a national list candidate for the UPFA, as is former UNF Foreign Minister, Tyronne Fernando for the Colombo district for the UNF. Veteran politician Ronnie de Mel who was early this week rumoured to have crossed over to the UNF is also like to be in the UPFA national list. controversial Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, who was also rumoured to be seeking to cross over to the UNF is confirmed as contesting the Gampaha district under the UPFA ticket. Former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake is also like to be a national list candidate for the UPFA, as is Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana. But former Transport and Highways Minister A.H.M.Fowzie is expected to contest the Colombo district. The JVP, it is learnt will not have any of its candidates on the national list with both JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and Party Secretary Tilvin Silva opting to remain in sidelines. Thilak Marapona and Bandula Gunawardene are expected to contest Ratnapura and Kalutara districts respectively. The Sunday Observer learns that efforts made by the UNF leadership to bring the former Mass Communication Minister in the fray for Kalutara district had failed. However, former UNF MP Naveen Dissanayake has secured his place in the national list for the Nuwara-Eliya district. |
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