Setting a new trend in the political stratosphere, the Janatha Vimukthi Permuna (JVP) yesterday presented a national list fully comprised of professionals, intellectuals and civil society representatives.
None of the front-line members or the party’s ex-Parliamentarians had been given national list slots, unlike in the UNP and the UPFA. Among the national list members of the JVP are former Auditor General S.C. Mayadunne, Chrishmal Warnasuriya, Upul Kumarapperuma, Prof. A.J. Ruhunuhewa, Prof. Susiripala Manawadu, Prof. Kapila Perera and Prof. Piyadasa Ranasinghe. Cartoonist Winnie Hettigoda, Charles Dayananda, writer Anthony Jeewa, Sajeewa Chamikara, Manjula Samarasekera and Anurudhdha Jayasinghe.
The UNP has given its Chairman Malik Samarawickrema a national list slot. Former Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya has also been included in the national list along with D.M. Swaminadhan, Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, Raja Uswetakeiyawa, Thilak Marapona and Sirinal de Mel. Former Wimal Weerawansa loyalist Professor Ashu Marasinghe has also been given a place in the party’s national list.
Interestingly, two Buddhist monks, namely Athuraliye Rathana Thera and Omalpe Sobhitha Thera have been named as national list candidates of the party. This is the first time the party has named Buddhist monks as national list candidates. When asked about it, a senior Parliamentarian of the party told Colombo Telegraph that the party was compelled to do so due to the MOU signed between the parties supporting the Good Governance Front.
UPFA National List
Meanwhile, A.H.M. Fowzie, Tissa Attanayake, Prof. G.L. Peiris, Prof. Tissa Vitrarana, D.E.W. Gunasekera, Tiran Alles, Dilan Perera, Shiral Lakthilake, J. Sri Ranga , Charitha Herath and Reginald Cooray have been given slots in the UPFA national list. Tiran Alles is already under investigations by Police over alleged financial misappropriations at RADA under his watch as the Chairman. Attanayake is also facing a court case over forged signatures.