PC polls More join the fray

With two days to go for the close of nominations for the Provincial Council polls, two political parties and four independent groups handed over nominations by noon yesterday.

In the Kandy district, the National Development Front handed over it’s nominations with five independent groups placing deposits. In Matale, three independent groups made deposits. In Nuwaraeliya, one independent group submitted nominations, with eight others placing deposits.

In the Puttalam district, the United Socialist Party handed over nominations along with two other independent groups.

In addition, eight independent groups placed deposits by noon yesterday. However, figures from Kurunegala were not available, as election officials were unavailable to answer media queries.

Meanwhile, UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha said 95 per cent of the nomination lists have been finalised and the party would take steps to submit their papers during the next few days.

The UNP said yesterday they too would submit nominations on December 30 and 31 with the JVP claiming to have finalised nomination lists. According to the Election Secretariat, a political party or independent group should nominate 65 candidates to the Central Province and 56 candidates to the North Western Province. Fifty six members are to be elected to the Central Provincial Council and 50 members to the North Western Provincial Council. In addition, two bonus seats would be on offer to the winners of each province.

In the Central province, the Kandy district is set to appoint 30 members with Matale and Nuwaraeliya 10 and 16 respectively to the Central Provincial Council.

In the North Western Province, Kurunegala and Puttalam districts are slated to appoint 34 and 16 members to the Provincial Council respectively.

Nominations will close at 12 noon on December 31. The date of the election is to be announced by the Commissioner of Elections shortly after receiving all nominations.

RS