Nine journalists in the fray for General Election

by Manjula Fernando

Apart from the popular sports and film figures, nine journalists will also contest the forthcoming General Election to secure seats in Sri Lanka’s seventh Parliament.

The media personalities have joined in the fray under the main parties - the UPFA and UNP as well as the TNA and two Independent groups. Three of the media figures will contest from the Colombo district while two of them have handed over nominations to contest from Jaffna. The rest are from Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Batticaloa, Ampara and the Matara districts.

The UPFA has fielded two journalists, former Rupavahini CEO Karu Paranavithana who received nomination to contest from the Ratnapura district and ITN Deputy Director Sudharman Radaliyagoda will be contesting from Colombo.

MTV Director Susil Kidelpitiya, representing Colombo, Virakesari News Editor Sri Gajan (Jaffna), MTV presenter Sri Ranga (Nuwara Eliya) and Buddhika Pathirana (Matara) will contest under the UNP led UNF.

Managing Director of the Uthayan and Sudar Oli publications E. Saravanabhavan will be in the fray representing the Jaffna district under the TNA.

Lake House and ITN local correspondent Jaufar Khan will lead an Independent group, the United Democratic People’s Alliance in Batticaloa while Lake House local correspondent for Kalmunai M.M. Jesmin will also contest under an Independent group.

The two main political parties have fielded new faces in their Nomination Lists for the April 8 poll that will elect 225 members including 29 under the National List.