Although Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa and Gampaha District MP Karu Jayasuriya were omitted from the nomination board, the United National Party (UNP) had appointed them to a special committee set up to handle the party’s campaign for the provincial council elections.

The committee members as announced by UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake comprise Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Assistant Leader Joseph Michael Perera, Chairman Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, National Organizer Daya Gamage, MPs. John Amaratunga, D. M. Swaminathan, Lakshman Kiriella, Kabir Hashim, Ravi Karunanayake, Wijayakala Maheshwaran R. Yogarajan, Niroshan Perera and Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.

Daily mirror learns that discussions are being held with Mr. Premasasa and Mr. Jayasuriya to obtain their support for the party’s campaign.

In addition to the national committee, three provincial committees have also been appointed. The election activities in the Central Province will be headed by MP Lakshman Kiriella, the North-Western Province by Joseph Michael Perera and the Northern Province by Ravi Karunanayake and D.M. Swaminathan.

The UNP has appointed group leaders with former MP Lucky Jayawardne heading the Kandy list, Ranjith Aluvihara the Matale list and Nuwaraeliya by K. Priyasasa. Shamal Senerath will lead the Kurunegala list and Shantha Abeysinghe will head the Puttalam District list. K. Maheshwaran will head the Jaffna list; Dinesh Ravichandrarajah will head the Mullaitivu list, while W. Maheshwaran will head the Kilinochchi list. However the Mannar district leader was to be appointed later in the day. (Yohan Perera)