By Dasun Edirisinghe

The SLFP-led UPFA has finalised its nominations lists for the forthcoming polls to three provincial councils, a party source said yesterday, adding that the selected candidates had signed their papers at the Presidential Secretariat.

The source said that former UPFA North-Western Provincial Council member Ananda Sarath Kumara, who is alleged to have forced a female teacher, at the Nawagaththegama Novodya School, to kneel down, had not received nominations.

Ananda Sarath Kumara, was re–remanded last week by the Anamaduwa Magistrate for violating bail conditions. However, SLFP insiders said the councillor’s nephew had been nominated to contest the polls.

The party source said that former LTTE media spokesman Velayutham Dayanithi aka Daya Master, too, had been left out. He was expected to contest the Northern Provincial Council election from the Kilinochchi District.

The UPFA is scheduled to hand over the nominations to the Elections Secretariat today, tomorrow and on Wednesday.When contacted for comment, former LTTE spokesman Dayanithi said he was surprise to hear that his request had been turned down. However, he was willing to campaign for the UPFA in the Kilinochchi District, he said.

Ananada Sarath Kumara and Velayutham Dayanithi attended the interviews seeking nominations to contest the polls on the UPFA ticket.

When contacted for comment, nomination board member and senior minister A. H. M. Fowzi said he was not aware of such decisions.

Other members of the board, SLFP General Secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena and Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma were not available for comment as they were attending the National Youth Sports Festival in Polonnaruwa.

UPFA General Secretary and Nominations Board member, Environment Minister Susil Premajayantha, was at the Presidential Secretariat while Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had switched off their mobile phones.

COURTESY:THE ISLAND