A vacancy in the Pohottuwa party national list occurred when a state purohita who was handling three subjects closely connected to the country’s economy resigned to take up the top post in the bank of banks. 

In fact, there were media reports from the time incumbent head of the country’s main bank announced his decision to resign, pointing to the possibility of the state purohita handling the  subjects wedded to the economy being appointed to succeed the outgoing head. And the likelihood of a vacancy occurring in the core-party of the government coalition triggered a scramble behind the scenes for the vacant slot. 

In fact, two political entities, one from the estate sector and the other from the old left were the two main contenders. While the Left party pressed that a ‘doctor’ holding a high position in that party be nominated to fill the vacancy, the estate sector party appealed that a member of the ‘dynastic line‘ no longer enjoying high political status be considered for the slot. Their ‘man’ they pointed out, had earlier given a good account of himself at provincial level. 

Given the intense jockeying for the vacant slot, the Pohottuwa high-ups lost no time in filling the vacancy with a person who had kept himself away from the scramble.