SLPP to seek legal advice over the rejection of nomination lists - Basil

The National Organizer of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that legal advice will be sought over the rejection of nomination lists submitted by the SLPP for six Local Government (LG) institutions.

“We hope to hold discussions with the nominees of the rejected lists and to obtain a concession,” Rajapaksa said.

Speaking further, Basil Rajapaksa said that the party is hoping to contest for all other LG bodies as nominations are accepted until December 21.

The nominations submitted by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for the Maharagama Urban Council was rejected due one of the party’s female candidates failing to specify her gender despite filling out her information correctly, according to Sunil Kannangara Colombo District Secretary.

The party’s nomination lists for Badulla and Mahiyanganaya Pradeshiya Sabhas of Badulla District were also rejected.

The reasons for the rejection were lack of female representation and as one candidate’s signature was included without the name, said Nimal Abeysiri,Badulla District Secretary.
  
Nimal Abeysiri stated that 42 political parties and 9 independent groups had handed over nominations for the 11 local government institutions in the Badulla District.
 
The nominations list for Agalawatta Pradeshiya Sabha and Panadura Municipal Council of Kalutara District were turned down for not signing the nomination list. 

The SLPP nomination for Weilgama was rejected by Matara District Returning Office Pradeep Ratnayaka on the ground that the nomination had not been submitted by a member of the party or an authorized agent. 

The party filed objections to this, however that too has been rejected again, Ada Derana reporter said.  

Former Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, K. Muthukumarana, stated that they will pursue legal actions with regard to the rejection of the nomination list.

Meanwhile the nomination list of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) for Padiyathalawa and Dehiaththakandiya Pradeshiya Sabhas were rejected.

The acceptance of nominations for 93 Local Government bodies concluded at noon yesterday (14).

A period of one and half hours was granted by the Election Commission to place objections after the handover of nominations.

The Joint Opposition led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is contesting the upcoming election as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, under the “flower bud” symbol.