Rejected MPs dominate nominations

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Attorney-at-Law Dasun Nagasena said that the Election Commission (EC) should reject nominations of proxy candidates for the 2024 presidential poll.

Lawyer Nagasena, who campaigns for Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC of the National Democratic Front (NDF) candidate, said that the EC should prevent inexcusable waste of public funds by proxies joining the fray.

Nagasena said so in response to The Island query soon after the EC announced that 40 probable candidates paid the stipulated cash deposit by noon yesterday (14).

According to the lawyer, regardless of them paying cash deposits, the EC could refuse to accept their nominations. “Of the 40 candidates, the vast majority are either proxies or those who contest for personal benefits,” Nagasena said. The EC is scheduled to accept nominations today (15).

At the last presidential election, held in Nov 2019, 35 candidates contested the election that was won by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Nagasena said unless the EC at least acted now, the number of candidates could be even higher than at the previous election.

According to EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayaka altogether 40 persons, 22 representing recognised political parties, one representing yet to be recognised political party (Ruhunu Janatha Peramuna) and 17 independent candidates paid cash deposits. According to the country’s supreme law, only sitting and former parliamentarians can obtain the services of unrecognized political party or any voter to pay cash deposit for them.

For the first time in presidential election history, a main candidate is contesting as an independent. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe declared his intention to contest as an independent after failing to reach a consensus with the SLPP on a common agenda.

Lawyer Nagasena said that he raised the contentious issue of proxies in the fray with the EC. Asked to explain, Nagasena said that though he only named former Hambantota District parliamentarian K. Ananda Kularatne as being a proxy of President Wickremesinghe, in his letter to the EC, there were many others.

Examination of past presidential election results proved that except the two top candidates, all others had been dismal failures.

The EC said the following paid cash deposit: Ranil Wickremesinghe (Indpendent), Sarath Keerthiratne (Ind.), Oshala Herath (Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna), A.S.P. Liyanage (Sri Lanka Kamkaru Pakshaya), Sajith Premadasa (Samagi Jana Balawegaya), P.W.S.K. Bandaranayake (Jathika Sanwardhana Peramuna), Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe (Jathika Prajathanrawadi Peramuna), K.K. Piyadasa (Ind), Sirithunga Jayasuriya (Eksath Samajawadi Pakshaya), Ajantha de Zoysa (Ruhunu Janatha Peramuna), K. Ananda Kularatne (Ind), Sarath Manamendra (Nawa Sihala Urumaya), Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thera (Janasetha Peramuna), Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratne Thera (Ind.), Siripala Amarasinghe (Ind.), K.R. Krishan (Arunalu Janatha Peramuna), Sarath Fonseka (Ind.), Anura Kumara Dissanayake (Jathika Jana Balawegaya), Pani Wijesiriwardena (Samajawadi Samanatha Pakshaya), Anthony Victor Perera (Ind.), A.M. Illiyas (Ind), Marakkarala Manage Premasiri (Ind.), Anura Sydney Jayaratne (Ind.), D.M. Bandaranayake (Ind.), Priyantha Pushpakumara Wickramasinghe (Nawa Sama Samaja Pakshaya), M. Thilakaraja (Ind.), J.D.K. Wickremaratne (Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya), Roshan Ranasinghe (Ind.), Mahinda Dewage (Sri Lankawe Samajawadi Pakshaya), Anoj de Silva (Prajathanrawadi Eksath Janatha Peramuna), P. S. Ariyaneththiram (Ind.), A.M. Infas (Eksath Prajathanrawadi Sandhanaya), Dilith Jayaweera (Communist Party), Nuwan Bopage (Samajawadi Janatha Sansadhaya), Namal Rajapaksha (Samabima Pakshaya), Anuruddha Polgampola (Ind.), Namal Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna), Janaka Ratnayake (Eksath Lanka Podujana Pakshaya), Lalith de Silva (Eksath Jathika Nidahas Peramuna) and Sarath Kumara Gunaratne (Ind.).

Lawyer Nagasena said that each proxy cost the taxpayers as much as Rs 25 mn. It would be the responsibility of the EC to put an end to the nonsense caused by proxies, he said.