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.
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