The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has highlighted a delay in the submission of National List Members of Parliament (MPs) for several political parties following this year’s parliamentary elections. As per the Commission, the names of the National List MPs must be forwarded by the respective party secretaries before they can be gazetted and made official.
Currently, the Samagi Jana Balawega (SJB) has four National List MP positions awaiting confirmation. The New Democratic Front (NDF) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) each have one pending National List MP position.
The SJB, which secured a total of five National List seats in the election, has already submitted the name of their party’s secretary, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, to fill one of those positions. His appointment has already been gazetted. However, the names of the remaining three MPs who will fill the SJB’s other National List seats have yet to be submitted by the party leadership.
In an interview, former MP Hirunika Premachandra, who is a prominent figure within the SJB, voiced support for the potential appointment of a woman to one of the remaining National List seats. She stated that if a woman is chosen for the role, she should be fully qualified and capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of the position.
On the matter of the New Democratic Front’s National List MP, party secretary Sharmila Perera confirmed that Ravi Karunanayake, former finance minister and a key figure within the NDF, has been nominated to fill their National List seat. Perera clarified that this appointment was made following a unanimous decision by the NDF leadership, in alignment with the internal agreements within the party. She emphasized that the appointment was made in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the allied parties and was not an arbitrary or mistaken decision.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), which has one National List seat, has submitted its proposal for its appointee. The name of the individual selected to represent the SLMC in Parliament is expected to be announced shortly. Party leader Rauf Hakeem has reportedly reviewed the proposal and will finalize the nomination.
As the political parties await the finalization of their National List appointments, there remains some uncertainty about when all the names will be officially confirmed and gazetted. This delay has sparked concern among political analysts, who are closely monitoring the situation, especially given the significance of the National List positions in shaping the composition of Sri Lanka’s new parliament. The Election Commission will proceed with the formal gazetting of the names as soon as the necessary paperwork is submitted by the political parties involved.
