5 October 2024 12:00 am Views - 79
By Yohan Perera
United National Party (UNP)- led alliance are in the process of finalising arrangements to contest the General Election under the gas cylinder while a final decision is also pending on contesting the Nuwara Eliya District under the elephant symbol as the alliance partner Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) requested.
UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene told Daily Mirror that some groups including CWC who backed Mr. Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Election suggested that they should contest in districts such as Nuwara Eliya with concentrations of estate sector Tamils under the elephant symbol.
“We will most probably contest under the elephant symbol at least in the Nuwara Eliya District where there is a high population of estate Tamils. This will be a very likely scenario, but the final decision will be made within a few days,” he said.
Accordingly, the group will be contesting for eight seats in Nuwara Eliya District under the elephant symbol if a final decision is made.
“We have also carried out discussions on nominations and final decisions will be made within the coming days,” Mr. Wijewardene added.
Meanwhile, former MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said the alliance will finalise its nominations by next week. “We have no issues with regard to slots which each partner of the alliance will get and a final decision will be made within a few days,” he told Daily Mirror.
“There is a suggestion that the alliance should contest Nuwara Eliya under the elephant symbol and a final decision on this matter will be made soon,” he added.
Also, Mr. Yapa said almost everyone who backed Mr. Wickremesinghe are expected to contest the General Election.