Stars take to politics

* Icons of different disciplines venture into politics

by Ranil Wijayapala

Namal Rajapaksa	Sanath Jayasuriya	Susanthika Jayasinghe	Geetha Kumarasinghe	Buddadasa Vithanachchi	Thilanga Sumathipala

As political parties are finalising their nominations, popular figures including actors, actresses, sports personalities are expected to make their debut in active politics at the forthcoming General Elections.

A number of actors, actresses and sports personalities are among the new faces in the nomination lists of the UPFA.

Chairman of the Tharunyata Hettak and former S. Thomas College Mt. Lavinia and Sri Lanka Youth Rugby captain Namal Rajapaksa will be contesting under the UPFA list from the Hambantota district.

Veteran actress Geetha Kumarasinghe is set to contest the elections under the UPFA banner from the Galle district.

Award winning actress Geetha Kumarasinghe was a prominent orator at the political campaign of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election.

According to political sources veteran actor Buddadasa Vithanachchi is also scheduled to contest the forthcoming General Election from the Kegalle district. Vithanachchi has been given nomination from the National Freedom Front to contest under the UPFA banner.

Jackson Anthony who was among the many artistes who backed the campaign of President Rajapaksa has politely rejected the offer made to him to enter active politics at the General Election.

Sri Lanka’s sprint queen and Olympic silver medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe also confirmed that her name has been included in the Kegalle district nomination list of the UPFA.

Susanthika who hails from Athnawala, Warakapola in the Kegalle district won the bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, and later elevated to a silver medallist after Marian Jones deprived of her gold medal.

Cricket star Sanath Jayasuriya is also set to enter the fray at the forthcoming General Elections under the UPFA banner.

Sanath Jayasuriya who marvelled the world with his mesmerizing batting performance in the international cricket is set to contest Matara district under the UPFA banner.The former Sri Lanka Cricket President and Asian Cricket Council President Thilanga Sumathipala is also making his debut in the parliamentary elections from the Colombo district. Thilanaga Sumathipala is currently a Member of the Western Provincial Council having obtained the second highest preferential votes from the Colombo district.

Apart from this many other actors and actresses are expected to be included in the UPFA national list as nomination will be finalised this week.