Category: News

Three more candidates placed cash deposits for the upcoming Presidential election today (09) increasing the total number of candidates to 27.

According to the Election Commission, the candidates who placed deposits today are Priyantha Pushpakumara from the Nava Sama Samaja Party, M. Thilakarajah as an independent candidate, J. D. K. Wickramarathne from the Ape Jana Bala Party.

Accordingly, other candidates are President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former MP Sarath Keerthirathne and K.K. Piyadasa, former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Oshala Herath from ‘Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna’, A.S.P. Liyanage of the Sri Lanka Labour Party, Sajith Premadasa of the ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya’, P.W.S.K. Bandaranayake from ‘Jathika Sanwardhana Peramuna’, Ajantha De Zoysa from the Ruhunu Janatha Party, Siritunga Jayasuriya from the United Socialist Party, K. Ananda Kularatne, Sarath Manamendra from the Nawa Sihala Urumaya, Akmeemana Dayaratna Thera, Battaramulle Seelaratne Thera, Siripala Amarasinghe, Sarath Fonseka (Independent candidate), K.R. Krishan from the Arunalu Janata Peramuna, Pani Wijesiriwardena from Socialist Equality Party, Anthony Victor Perera, Muhammad Ilyas, Pemasiri Manage, Sidney Jayarathna and D M bandaranayake.

The Election Commission officially announced that the Presidential election will be held on September 21.

The “Samagi Jana Sandanaya” (SJS), a broad political alliance led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), was officially unveiled today under the leadership of SJB leader and presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa and with signing of agreements with several parties.

Several political parties and alliances, including the SJB, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Dayasiri faction), Mano Ganesan’s Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), “Nidahasa Janatha Sabhawa”, and Arjuna Ranatunga’s “Purawesi Handa”, have reached an agreement to form an alliance as the “Samagi Jana Sandanaya” (SJS).

This coalition will support Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Presidential Election.

The ceremonial launch of the new alliance commenced, a short while ago, at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo.

A faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led by MP Jayasekara, the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) which represents the upcountry community, the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), several other political parties have entered into this agreement under the theme – “A united country, victory for all”.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader MP Rauff Hakeem, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan, leader of the National Union of Workers (NUW) Palani Digambaran, Up-Country People’s Front leader MP V. Radhakrishnan, the Freedom People’s Congress leader MP Dullas Alahapperuma, former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, former minister Arjuna Ranatunga, former Army Commander General (retired) Mahesh Senanayake and president of Government Midwifery Services Association (GMSA) Devika Kodithuwakku also signed the memorandum of understanding while Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara signed on behalf of the SJB.

Additionally, the policies of the ‘Samagi Jana Sandanaya’ were also announced today while SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was officially presented as the Presidential Candidate of the alliance.

The United Kingdom (UK) has issued a “travel warning” on Sri Lanka following an update to the visa requirements.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said there had been an update to the visa application process.

It noted that Sri Lanka has temporarily suspended the online visa (eVisa) application system on 2 August 2024. All visas received prior to this date retain their validity.

“You can obtain a visa on arrival to Sri Lanka at the port of entry. You can also complete your online arrival form up to 3 days before you arrive. The service is free and may save time on arrival. Tourist visas are normally valid for 30 days. If you overstay your visa the police could issue a fine or detain you. If you want to extend your stay, contact the Immigration and Emigration department. You do not need a visa if you’re travelling through Sri Lanka by air, as long as the connecting flight is within 24 hours of your arrival. Check with your airline about transit times,” the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said.

Sri Lanka temporarily suspended the online visa (eVisa) application system on 2 August 2024 following a Supreme Court order.

The ‘Tamil National Common Structure’, an alliance of Tamil political parties, has announced its decision to nominate Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Central committee member and former MP P.Ariyanenthiran as their common candidate for the upcoming Presidential Election.

Several Tamil political parties and a group of civil society representatives had reached an agreement to nominate a common candidate for the forthcoming Presidential Election.

Accordingly, seven Tamil political parties including the Tamil People’s Alliance and seven civil society representatives had signed this agreement in Jaffna on July 22.

The signatories include C. V. Vigneswaran of Tamil People’s Alliance, Selvam Adaikkalanathan of Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), D. Siddharthan of People’s Liberation Organisation Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Srikantha of Tamil National Party and Suresh Premachandran of Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF).

As the presidential election approaches, a total of 17 candidates have officially placed their deposits with the Election Commission, marking their intention to run for the highest office in the country.

The diverse roster of candidates includes a mix of independent contenders and representatives from various political parties.

Here are the candidates who have submitted their deposits:

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe – Running as an Independent.

2. Sarath Keerthiratne – Independent candidate

3. Oshala Herath – Representing the Abhinava Nivahal Peramuna

4. ASP Liyanage – From the Sri Lanka Labour Party.

5. Sajith Premadasa – Leader of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya.

6. PWSK Bandaranaike – Candidate for the National Development Front.

7. Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe – Representing the National Democratic Front.

8. KK Piyadasa – Independent candidate.

9. Siritunga Jayasuriya – United Socialist Party candidate.

10. Ajantha De Zoysa – From the Ruhunu Janatha Peramuna.

11. K. Ananda Kularatne – Independent candidate.

12. Sarath Manamendra – Nava Sihala Urumaya

13. Venerable Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero – Janasetha Peramuna

14. Venerable Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero – Independent candidate.

15. Siripala Amarasinghe – Independent candidate.

16. K. R. Krishan – Arunalu Janatha Peramuna

17. Sarath Fonseka – Independent candidate.

18. Anura Kumara Dissanayake – National People’s Power