Sajith to contest general elections from Colombo district

• Sajith will lead the campaign of his alliance and will contest from Colombo for the first time   
• He is a national leader, so he cannot lead his party’s campaign from H’tota

By JAMILA HUSAIN   

Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the newly-formed Samagi Jana Balawegaya and deputy leader of the United National Party (UNP), will contest the upcoming general elections from the Colombo district, sources close to Premadasa told Daily Mirror yesterday.    

Mr. Premadasa will lead the campaign of his alliance and will contest from Colombo for the first time and will seek his party’s advice in nominating a suitable candidate to contest from his electorate, the Hambantota district.   

“He is a national leader, so he cannot lead his party’s campaign from Hambantota. He will contest from the Colombo District,” an aide close to Premadasa said.   

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will also contest from the Colombo district, a senior UNP MP close to Wickremesinghe told Daily Mirror earlier this week. He had had already informed his party that he will be contesting the elections, amidst reports that he may be offered a national list seat by Sajith Premadasa.  Mr. Wickremesinghe’s camp has also maintained that there will be no changes in the electorates of any members and all will contest from their respective constituencies.   

Meanwhile, senior UNP MPs said that Ranil and his camp will make a decision at the Working Committee meeting today, if they will accept Sajith’s offer to contest from the newly-formed alliance, and if he would attend the launch of the alliance on March 2.