The Election Commission of Sri Lanka says that deposits have been placed for four candidates within today (26) to contest the 2024 Presidential Election.
This includes two independent candidates and two other candidates from recognized political parties.
– Ranil Wickremesinghe – Independent
– Sarath Keerthirathne – Independent
– Oshala Herath – ‘Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna’
– ASP Liyanage – Sri Lanka Workers Party
The Election Commission announced that the opportunity has been provided for voters to cast their votes at an alternative polling station other than their designated station during the forthcoming Presidential Election.
Publishing an extraordinary gazette notification in this regard, the Election Commission has declared that a person who is reasonably fearful that he will not be able to go to and cast the vote at the given polling station, may request to be facilitated to vote at another polling station.
Furthermore, the gazette notification highlighted that the provisions of Section 119B of the Presidential Elections Act, No. 15 of 1981, as amended by the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 16 of 1988, have provided in this regard.
The relevant applications to cast vote at an alternative polling station must be forwarded to reach the Election Commission, Office of the Election Commission, Sarana Mawatha, Rajagiriya within 7 days of the nomination notice, which is on or before 01 August 2024, the Election Commission said.
The applications can be obtained from offices of all District Returning Officers or District Election Offices.
Meanwhile, the election regulatory body emphasized that it is a mandatory requirement to quote the National Identity Card Number of the applicant on the application which must be certified by the relevant Grama Niladhari where the applicant resides.
Applications without the certification of the Grama Niladhari will be rejected, according to the Election Commission.
The applicants must furnish relevant information based on the valid consolidated electoral register for polling 2024 and such registers are available at all the District Secretariats/ “Kachcheris” and District Election Offices or the website of the Election Commission www.elections.lk.
The Presidential Election is scheduled to be held on 21 September, 2024 and Nominations will be accepted on 15 August 2024.
While welcoming the announcement of the Presidential election, the United States said they look forward to free and fair elections that empower Sri Lankan citizens to determine their future.
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jullie Chung said in a post on X “We welcome the Election Commission announcement of the September 21 Presidential election, affirming Sri Lanka’s longstanding commitment to democracy. We look forward to free and fair elections that empower Sri Lankan citizens to determine their future.”
As many as 12 candidates have so far expressed readiness to contest the upcoming presidential polls.
Main among they are incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
SLFP’s minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, MJP leader Dilith Jayaweera, businessman Dhammika Perera, former PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnayake, former minister Roshan Ranasinghe and chief incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Vihara Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratana Thera are the others.
Also, Tamil parties and the FSP-led Jana Aragala movement have declared intentions to field candidates.
Political analysts believe this could be the presidential election with the highest ever number of candidates.
Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe has deposited the candidate’s fee for the upcoming presidential election.
The country’s Election Commission announced that the poll will be held on September 21.
Wickremesinghe was the first candidate to pay the deposit. He will be contesting as an independent candidate.
Two others declared their candidacy yesterday: retired army chief Sarath Fonseka, and current justice minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.
A majority of SLPP MPs has decided to support incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe at the presidential election, party leader Mahinda Rajapaksa was told yesterday (25).
Thirty ministers, state ministers and government MPs met him at the parliamentary complex and intimated this to him, according to lankadeepa.lk.
Therefore, a party decision to field some other candidate could harm its vote base, they noted, and asked him not to do so.
Rajapaksa responded by saying that he would discuss the matter with the party and make a decision known soon.
The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has issued the Gazette notification announcing the date of the 2024 Presidential Election and the date for the accepting of nominations.
Accordingly, the Presidential Election will be held on 21 September, 2024 and Nominations will be accepted on 15 August 2024, according to the Gazette notification.
The Gazette notification which includes the date of the Presidential Election will be published tomorrow (July 26).
Issuing a statement, the National Election Commission said the Gazette will include the dates for the Presidential poll and the calling of nominations.
The Election Commission further said that the decision was taken during a meeting convened today.
From July 17, 2024, the National Election Commission was constitutionally vested with powers to declare the Presidential Election date.
Tamils across the globe mourn the loss of Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne, last Leftist and true friend of Tamil in Sri Lanka, today.
He is one of the few Sri Lankan politicians to recognize Tamils as the native of the island and firmly believed in the right to Self Determination of Tamils in Eezham.
In his speech, at the Proceedings of International Conference On Tamil Nationhood
& Search for Peace in Sri Lanka, Ottawa, Canada 1999, he indicated that:
“Only unity possible is the voluntary union of the two nationalities. For this, recognition of the right of self determination of the Tamil people is a precondition. Acceptance of equality, autonomy and the Right of Self Determination is the only basis for a democratic unity.”
A voice that continuously supported Tamils self-determination and to prevent ongoing TamilGenocide is no more…
Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has discussed furthering cooperation between Sri Lanka and China while on a visit there this week.
“Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly in advancing key projects like the Colombo Port City and Hambanthota Port,” a Parliament statement said.
Sri Lanka is a key partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), known in China as the One Belt One Road (OBOR) and sometimes referred to as the New Silk Road, a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to invest in more than 150 countries and international organizations.
The BRI is composed of six urban development land corridors linked by road, rail, energy, and digital infrastructure and the Maritime Silk Road linked by the development of ports.
Abeywardana was in China to attend the 8th China-South Asia Exposition held in Kunming, Yunnan Province.
The trade fair was instrumental in fostering substantial economic and trade exchanges since its inception in 2013, he said. “This exposition has notably strengthened cooperation between China and South Asian countries, bringing considerable benefits to the people of Sri Lanka.”
Addressing the opening ceremony, Abeywardana thanked the Ministry of Commerce of China and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province for their longstanding friendship.
The Speaker also addressed the 5th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum on July 24, held on the theme, “Build Consensus for Regional Development.”.
Abeywardana was said to have emphasized “the necessity of collective solutions to global development challenges,” and called for addressing these issues through mutual cooperation.
Abeywardana and other officials in the delegation met Secretary of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Yunnan People’s Congress Wang Ning, and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress Ding Zhongli.
Sri Lanka and China have maintained 67 years of diplomatic relations in recent history, spanning trade, investment, cultural exchanges, and infrastructure development.
There was a mild hiccup in diplomatic relations between both countries after Sri Lanka banned Chinese research vessels calling at the island nation for research purposes for one year, after strong protest by India, which had cited security threats.
