PC polls:

More parties hand over nominations

Rasika Somarathna

More political parties and independent groups handed over nominations yesterday to contest the Central and Northwestern Provincial Council Elections with 24 hours to meet the nominations deadline.

Twelve political parties and 15 independent groups filed nominations by noon yesterday. In the Kandy district, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the National Development Front (NDF) and the United National Party had filed nominations with one other independent group.

In Nuwar-aeliya, the UPFA, United Socialist Front and the Patriotic National Front handed nominations. In addition, three other independent groups too filed nominations.

In Matale, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and four independent groups placed their nominations.

The UPFA, USF, PNF and JVP had handed over nominations for Puttalam with three other independent groups. In Kurunegala, four independent groups had handed in their lists of nominees.

The UPFA was expected to file nominations for Matale and Kurunegala in the afternoon and the other main contender, the UNP too was expected to hand in nominations last afternoon and this morning.

The acceptance of nominations would close at noon today, with the date of the election to be announced by the Commissioner of Elections, shortly afterwards.