SLPP & SLFP nominations rejected, JVP & UNP in the clear

Technical errors main cause for rejections

By Skandha Gunasekara

Local Government election nominations of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) were rejected in several districts while all nominations of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and United National Party (UNP) were accepted.

SLPP spokesperson Sanjeewa Edirisinghe told the Daily FT that his party’s nominations for Agalawatte, Panadura, Badulla, Maharagama, Mahiyanganaya and Weligama were rejected.

“In Agalawatte, Panadura and Maharagama the data in the affidavit was incorrect,” he said.

With regard to Weligama, Edirisinghe said that a person who was not authorised had submitted the nominations list, making it null and void, while in Mahiyanganaya and Badulla an entire column on each nomination application had not adequately filled.

Joint Opposition MP Udaya Gammanpila said that they would file a case in the Court of Appeal over the rejection of the SLPP’s nominations.

Additional Elections Commissioner, M.M. Mohamed informed the Daily FT that SLFP nominations for the Dehiaththakandiya electorate and Padiyatalawa Electorate were rejected.

“Individuals who were not authorised to hand over nominations made the submissions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando told the Daily FT that all nominations for the UNP had been accepted while JVP MP Vijitha Herath said that the nominations of the JVP in all 93 electorates had been accepted.