Two political parties, independent groups file nominations

by Ranil Wijayapala

With nominations for the forthcoming general elections opening on February 19, two political parties and two independent groups filed their nomination lists on Friday while other political parties and independent groups were busy finalising their nomination lists. Elections Secretariat sources told the Sunday Observer that two recognised political parties the Janasetha Peramuna and Jathika Sanwardhana Peramuna were the first to file their nominations for the forthcoming elections.

Accepting of nominations commenced on Friday at 22 District Secretariat offices and nominations will close on February 26 by mid noon.

According to Elections Secretariat officials a large number of nomination lists is expected on the last two days as many political parties are still finalising their nomination lists. They said special security arrangements have also been made at District Secretariat offices in view of the nominations.

The Janasetha Peramuna led by Ven. Battaramulle Seelaratana Thera was the first to file nominations for the Colombo district. They also filed nominations for the Gampaha, Kurunegala and Puttalam districts on Friday.

Ven. Battaramulle Seelaratana Thera after filing nominations for the Colombo district, said they were expecting to file their nominations for other districts too in the coming week.

The Jathika Sanwardhana Peramuna led by Achala Asoka Suraweera also filed nominations for the Colombo and Ratnapura districts.

Two independent groups contesting the Nuwara Eliya and Batticaloa districts also filed nominations on Friday.

Election Secretariat sources said that 54 Independent groups have also made their deposits to contest the forthcoming elections.

The ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance is due to hand over their nominations commencing tomorrow in keeping with auspicious times.

According to UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha district leaders have been assigned to hand over the UPFA nominations.

The United National Party will hand over their nominations on the final two days once their nominations are finalised within the next few days.

The United National Party has decided to contest the elections under the Elephant symbol as discussions among the Opposition political parties failed to come to an agreement over the formation of a grand Opposition alliance to contest the general election.

However, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress led by Rauff Hakeem and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana) Wing leader Mangala Samaraweera are also expected to contest the elections under the UNF.

“More than 90 percent of the nomination lists of the UNF have been already finalised in all districts and they will be signed by tomorrow to be handed over on February 25 and 26”, UNP Media spokesman Gayantha Karunatilaka told the Sunday Observer .

He said the party has considered more than 500 applications by new entrants to politics when preparing nomination lists. “We expect to include veteran and new faces in our nomination lists to present a strong team to contest the elections”, he said.

Meanwhile, the JVP and a few other politicians who backed the presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka will contest the elections under the Trophy symbol under a new alliance called the Democratic National Alliance under the leadership of Sarath Fonseka.

The new alliance is also expected to finalise their nomination lists within the next few days.

Former MP Arjuna Ranatunga and SLFP (Mahajana Wing) member Tiran Alles are also expected to contest the elections under the newly formed alliance, political sources said.