Families in the fray

Three families are set to field several family members at the August 17 parliamentary election as political parties are busy finalising nomination lists before the July 13 deadline.

Two of these families bear strong Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) links - the Rajapaksas of Hambantota and Ranatungas of Gampaha.

From the Rajapaksa clan, four members will contest on the UPFA ticket from two districts - Hambantota and Kurunegala. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will contest from Kurunegala while his brother Chamal, son Namal and cousin Nirupama will enter the fray from Hambantota.

The Ranatungas will contest from two districts - Kalutara and the traditional family bastion, Gampaha. Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and his youngest sibling Sanjeewa will contest on the UPFA ticket from Gampaha. Cricket World Cup winning skipper of the side and former parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga will contest from the newly-formed umbrella coalition, the United Front for Good Governance.

The new entrants 'in family mode' are the Fonsekas this time. Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka, his wife Anoma and their former son-in-law Dhanuna Tillekeratne will contest from three different districts. Field Marshal Fonseka will contest from Colombo, while Anoma Fonseka is expected to lead the party in Gampaha. Their former son-in-law, Dhanuna Tilekeratne will contest from the Gampaha district.