The defeated are not disqualified or unqualified
2016-02-19
Apart from these there seems to be heartbreaking among certain UNP seniors such as former State Minister Rosy Senanayake for appointing a leader of another party, the Democratic Party (DP) to the national list slot, ignoring them. Also the New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) had stated that the appointment was a “Breech of Trust” citing possible human rights charges against the veteran soldier who spearheaded the war victory against the LTTE, an entity that had been described as the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is also the UNP leader deviated twice from his policy that had been declared soon after the general elections not to appoint defeated candidates to the national list slots. First he had to do so as one of the constituent parties of the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG), the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC)led by Minister Rishard Bathiutheen’s elected a defeated candidate for the sole slot his party was offered by the UNFGG. This time he has selected Fonseka, also another candidate who contested under his own party, DP and was defeated at the last year’s General Elections.
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2016-02-19
The validity of the appointment of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to Parliament through the United National Party’s national list in place of former Deputy Minister M.K.A.D.S.Gunawardene who passed away last month is still being discussed among concerned parties, citing legal as well as ethical grounds. One argument put forward against his nomination is that his appointment was illegal as he was a serving officer of the Army. At the same time it is argued that nominating a candidate defeated at the last Parliamentary election was ethically wrong.
Apart from these there seems to be heartbreaking among certain UNP seniors such as former State Minister Rosy Senanayake for appointing a leader of another party, the Democratic Party (DP) to the national list slot, ignoring them. Also the New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) had stated that the appointment was a “Breech of Trust” citing possible human rights charges against the veteran soldier who spearheaded the war victory against the LTTE, an entity that had been described as the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is also the UNP leader deviated twice from his policy that had been declared soon after the general elections not to appoint defeated candidates to the national list slots. First he had to do so as one of the constituent parties of the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG), the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC)led by Minister Rishard Bathiutheen’s elected a defeated candidate for the sole slot his party was offered by the UNFGG. This time he has selected Fonseka, also another candidate who contested under his own party, DP and was defeated at the last year’s General Elections.
