EC turns to AG to resolve dispute over Ape Janabala Pakshaya’s National List seat

• Two nominees sent to EC for single seat
• Party Gen. Sec. and Chairman both claim seat

The Election Commission (EC) will seek advice from the Attorney General (AG) to resolve the dispute that has arisen with two names being forwarded to the Commission to fill the single National List seat won by the Ape Janabala Pakshaya or Our People’s Party (OPP).

OPP General Secretary Ven. Wedinigama Wimalatissa Thera had written to the EC, nominating himself to fill the seat, but the Party had decided to nominate its Chairman Saman Perera to the seat.

The whereabouts of Ven. Wimalatissa cannot be traced since he sent the letter to the EC, and it is suspected he has gone into hiding, OPP sources said.

Meanwhile the Party appointed a new General Secretary yesterday, and forwarded the name of the Chairman of the Party Saman Perera to fill the National List seat of the Party, which was launched by former MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero and Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero.

There were attempts by the Party to nominate Gnanasara Thero, who is the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), to the seat but as his name was not been included in the National List nominees handed over to the EC prior to the poll, and his nomination papers to contest the General Election from the Kurunegala District too were rejected, he is not qualified to hold a Parliamentary seat.

Ven. Wimalatissa Thera’s name is included in the OPP’s national list.