The New Democratic Front (NDF) has issued a statement addressing the controversy surrounding the allocation of National List MP positions following the recent parliamentary elections. The party’s secretary, Mrs. Shyamala Perera, clarified the situation, dismissing misinformation circulating in the media and reaffirming the party’s stance.
According to the statement, the NDF had entered into an alliance with the Podujana United Freedom Front, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and the Podujana United Front to contest the 2024 elections. As part of the agreement, the NDF agreed to modify its party logo and constitution. The alliance memorandum of understanding (MoU) ensured the NDF would receive at least one National List MP seat.
Following the elections, the NDF secured two National List positions. On November 17, 2024, the party’s executive committee unanimously decided to nominate Ravi Karunanayake for one of the positions. The decision was based on his loyalty to the party and his longstanding relationship with the late party founder Lalith Athulathmudali. Karunanayake previously served as an NDF MP, representing the party for five years.
Mrs. Perera’s statement reads, “It seems that there is a disturbance in the society due to the spread of baseless false information by the media regarding the above matter. Therefore, we expect to clarify the true background of this. Aiming to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections, the Podujana United Freedom Front (Kusalanaya) agreed to form an alliance with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Podujana United Front (Chair) New Alliance and the United National Party New Democratic Front. Accordingly, those parties submitted requests to us to change the official logo of our party ‘Swan’ to a gas cylinder and to make some amendments in the party constitution and prepare the necessary environment for it. Accordingly, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the above-mentioned parties and the New Democratic Front.”
She continued, “According to sub-document 05 of the said agreement, it has been agreed to give at least one position from the national list parliament seats to a candidate nominated by the New Democratic Front. According to the results of the parliamentary elections, the New Democratic Front won two positions as members of the National List. According to the agreement between the parties, our party has got the opportunity to give one of the positions to a candidate chosen by our party. Therefore, the working committee/executive committee of the party which met on November 17, 2024, unanimously decided to nominate Mr. Ravi Karunanayake, who had been nominated from the national list for the position.”
Mrs. Perera emphasized the historical ties between Karunanayake and the party, stating, “When the New Democratic Front was founded in 1994, this party was written and settled under the leadership of the late Mrs. Aluthal Thmudali under the swan sign. In the elections that followed, they contested in an alliance with the Podujana Peramuna and won 4 MP positions and 2 National List MP positions. At that time, Ravi Karunanayake and Kesaralal Gunasekara were appointed to parliament from the national list representing the party. They represented our party in the Parliament for 5 years from the year 2000.”
She also pointed out that the NDF has historically allowed allied candidates to contest under its symbol, the Swan, in past presidential elections, such as Sarath Fonseka in 2010, Maithripala Sirisena in 2014, and Sajith Premadasa in 2019. The current decision, she stated, aligns with the MoU and is within the party’s rights.
Mrs. Perera clarified, “If anyone sees it as a mistake or an arbitrary act to act according to our right to nominate someone to the national list position that our party has as per the MoU between the allied parties and our party, we can say that we have not done anything outside of the MoU or to the detriment of it.”
She further explained the timeline, noting, “Thubuna should be nominated for the position of National List MP by November 18, 2024, but the representation of the other parties in the alliance had not informed me until then, so we proceeded to hand over the name of Mr. Ravi Karunanayake to the Election Commission, which was the decision taken by the party. Prior to that, we proceeded to inform Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe of the resolution passed by the party. We emphasize that in nominating this National List candidate we have not committed any illegal or contravening MoU and we have only exercised our right.”
The statement concluded by addressing critics from outside the alliance, stating, “In the last few days, we have to say to the groups and individuals who are not a partner party in the party alliance, who are constantly switching parties without any electoral base, and who have no morals, to step forward and take a look. We see it as a waste of time to reply to their rhetoric.”
The NDF stands firm in its decision and maintains that it has acted in accordance with the MoU, without violating any agreements, and in the best interests of its party and the alliance.
