EC affirms Ravi as NDF National List MP amid Internal Disagreements

Karunanayake was appointed through the National List of the New Democratic Front (NDF), which contested the recent general election under the ‘Gas Cylinder’ symbol.

However, former President and New Democratic Front (NDF) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has reportedly expressed concerns to party representatives over the decision to nominate Ravi Karunanayake for one of the NDF’s two National List MP seats. He claims the decision was made unilaterally by the General Secretary of the party, Mrs. Sharmila Perera, without consulting the alliance’s member parties or himself.

The NDF, formed by the United National Party (UNP), the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and the Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna, secured three parliamentary seats and two National List seats in the 2024 General Election. It was agreed that the two National List seats would be allocated to representatives from the UNP and the Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna, with a final decision to be made collectively by the alliance.

Wickremesinghe reportedly communicated his objections to party representatives and Mrs. Sharmila Perera, stressing that Karunanayake’s nomination disregards the agreed procedure. A proposal had also been made to nominate former Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, who contested in Matara but was not elected, for the Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna’s National List seat.

Despite this, the NDF General Secretary submitted Ravi Karunanayake’s name to the Election Commission today for one of the National List MP positions. Wickremesinghe insists that the decision cannot be approved, emphasizing the importance of the alliance’s collective discussion.