Sannasgala, Janaka UNP’s CM candidates

By Kelum Bandara

The main opposition UNP yesterday decided to nominate popular lyricist, author, film producer and Sinhala tutor Upul Shantha Sannasgala and retired Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera as the chief ministerial candidates for the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Councils at the upcomoing elections.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had last evening informed the party’s Political Affairs Committee about the decision.

The UNP is to meet today to identify other candidates to be fielded on the party ticket to contest the August elections.

The party decided to field Mr. Sannasgala as the Sabaragamuwa chief ministerial candidate after National Organizer S.B. Dissanayake reportedly declined to accept it after consulting lawyers.

The UNP also passed a resolution at yesterday’s meeting to contest the election as an alliance with the SLFP (M), SLMC and the Western People’s Front. Accordingly these political parties are also expected to field some of their members under the UNP’s elephant symbol.

Meanwhile, former senior DIG Sirisena Herath will contest the NCP election on the UNP ticket from the Anuradhapura district.