An exercise where going by the book is not easy!

Last week saw the top brass of both main political parties who sat down to finalize nomination lists, struggling to find their way through a labyrinth of last minute pleas, proposals and demands to accommodate certain hopefuls. 


for instance, a request that a certain former judiciary chief be given a slot on the Betel leaf national list had sparked off a dispute. Meanwhile, despite continuing pressures, the new Big Boss had put his foot down that the four black sheep Dumi, Saji, Sarana and Mervin were not to be given nominations. 

Some party stalwarts had also pointed out that the hearing of a case against Dumi is due to begin on August 1 and giving nomination to him would place the party in an embarrassing position. By the way, the ‘doctor’ from Kelaniya has not been nominated by either party, they say.  Meanwhile, a well-known Buddhist monk who agreed to be on the Betel leaf national list is now having second thoughts, they say.