Nomination Boards conclude sittings:

UPFA,UNP Chief Ministers to be named after PC polls

by Manjula Fernando

The UPFA is likely to name the Chief Ministers for the three Provincial Councils, Northern, North Western and Central after the PC polls in late September.

Government Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the Sunday Observer that it is likely that President Mahinda Rajapaksa will go by the earlier system adopted at the PC elections on the nomination of a Chief Minister.

This was the practice during the North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern PC polls held in September 2012.

The three nomination boards of the UPFA have already concluded their sittings and interviews to select candidates and are due to finalise its nomination lists by July 27. The Minister said, “97 percent of the work on nominations have been completed.”

The three UPFA nomination boards were headed by Ministers John Seneviratne for the Central Province, Susil Premajayantha, Northern Province and A.H.M. Fowzie North Western Province.

The UNP too is likely to nominate its Chief Ministers after the elections are held, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told the Sunday Observer.

He said the party decision on this matter will be announced after the nominations are handed over. The UNP hopes to hand over its nomination lists to the returning officers of the three provinces on July 30 and 31. “We have already concluded the sittings of nomination boards and about 60 percent of the work is now over.”

He said they were now meeting district organisers to discuss their suggestions.

These discussions which began last week will continue till Friday. “Although only three provinces will go to the polls, we have to cover 10 districts.” Attanayake said, “We need to evaluate the new applications received, former members and recommendations of the organisers before the lists are closed.”

The UNP team leaders for the provinces will be determined by July 25 and the signing of the nomination lists is scheduled for July 29 and 30.