Nominations close PC polls on Feb. 14

Seventeen political parties, forty three independent groups contesting

Dharma Sri ABEYRATNE

Seventeen political parties and 43 independent groups handed in nominations to contest 106 seats in the Central and Northwestern Provincial Councils at the forthcoming polls to the two Councils.

The Commissioner General of Elections announced the election would be held on February 14.

The nominations were received at Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala and Puttalam District Secretariat offices by Returning Officers.

The acceptance of nominations closed at noon yesterday. However, 11 nomination lists have been rejected that include five nomination lists of political parties and six nomination lists of independent groups. Fifteen political parties and 26 independent groups have filed nominations for the Central Province which elect 56 members. The total number of candidates are 1,310. Nine hundred thirty seven candidates have applied to be elected to the Northwestern Province which has 50 seats. Under this 15 political parties and 17 independent groups have filed nominations.