Ruling UPFA Finalised its Nomination Lists for the General Elections

Selection of candidates for the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for the general elections have been finalized, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary and Minister Maithreepala Sirisena said.

“Selections were made by three selection boards and an appeals board has also been set up. One selection board was handled three provinces. Almost all the former Ministers and Parliamentarians from the UPFA were asked to send in their applications for consideration”, Minister Sirisena added.

Minister Sirisena said that it was very premature to reveal the names of selected candidates who will be contesting in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. But he added that a number of new faces have been included. “Artistes, sports personnel, professionals and several other respectable youths from the society were selected and included in the list”, the Minister added.

Signing of the nomination papers by the district leaders and deputy district leaders took place this yesterday (February 15) before President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the Presidential Secretariat.

UPFA General Secretary and Education Minister Susil Premajayantha signed as the leader of the Colombo district and Minister A.H.M.Fowzie is the deputy leader.

Minister Chamal Rajapksha is the leader for the Hambantota district and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera is the deputy leader. Namal Rajapaksha, Nirupama Rajapaksha, V.K.Indika and all the candidates for the Hambantota district signed their nomination papers this morning.

Piyasena Gamage and Gunarathna Weerakoon signed the nomination papers yesterday for the Galle district as the Leader and Deputy of the UPFA Team. Maithreepala Sirisena is the district leader for Polonnaruwa district and Siripala Gamlath is the deputy.

S.B.Nawinna is the leader for Kurunegala district and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa is the deputy leader of the district. Minister Dr.Sarath Amunugama has been appointed as the leader of the Kandy district and Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage is the deputy. Kalutara district is headed by Minister Kumar Welgama and Rohitha Abeugunawardene is the deputy.

Minister C.B.Rathnayake is the leader for the Nuwar-Eliya district and Minister Arumugam Thondaman signed the nomination papers as the deputy leader for the district. Nomination papers signed for the Badulla district by Ministers Nimal Siripala De Silva nd Dilan Perera.

Sources also revealed that former Test cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, ‘Master Blaster’ has been included in the list from the Matara district.

Other candidates of the alliance will sign their nomination papers on February 21 in Colombo Minister Sirisena said. He also said that only the national list will be finalized on February 26.

Gallery – Click on picture to zoom.

- Asian Tribune -