SLFP begins picking candidates for polls
CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday commenced the process of
picking candidates to contest the forthcoming Provincial polls in the
Northern, North Western and Central Provinces.
SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena said prospective
candidates are required to send in their names before July 1.
The nomination papers are available at the SLFP headquarters for Rs
500 a set, SLFP sources said.
The SLFP appointed a committee to pick candidates for the election.
The SLFP Nomination Committee comprise General Secretary, Health
Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Irrigation and Water Management Minister
Nimal Siripala de Silva, Environment Minister Susil Premajayantha, Youth
Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, Home
Affairs and State Administration Minister W D J Seneviratna, Western
Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Senior Minister A H M
Fowzie.
Meanwhile, the Election Commissioner General’s Department said they
are yet to call for nominations from political parties contesting the
provincial polls.
Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said they have not been
directed to announce elections in the Northern, North Western and
Central Provinces.
The Governors have not yet dissolved the Provincial Councils to hold
elections, he said.
Asked about the SLFP’s nomination call, Deshapriya said they must
have decided to call nominations as a preparatory measure for the poll.
“There has been no order as such from the President to dissolve any
of the Provincial Councils as yet,” he said. |