AG’s opinion sought on vacant parliamentary seat

The Elections Commission (EC) has decided to seek the Attorney General’s (AG’s) advice on the filling of the parliamentary seat that has fallen vacant following the demise of United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Salinda Dissanayake.

The Election Commission initially instructed the Kurunegala District Returning Officer to submit the elections list for the vacant seat.

However, as a number of parties have made written requests regarding the post, the Returning Officer had forwarded the nominations to the Elections Commission.

The Director General of the Elections Commission Saman Sri Ratnayaka in turn has said the list has been referred to the Attorney General’s Department for advice.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has informed the General Secretary of the UPFA to submit a nomination for the national list slot that has fallen vacant by the resignation of MP Shantha Bandara.

Following Dissanayake’s demise, UPFA National List MP Bandara, who is next in line in the Kurunegala District elections list, resigned from the National List slot to re-enter parliament through the Kurunegala District list.

However, an argument was presented by some parties that Bandara despite being the next in line to parliament under the Kurunegala District list, is not eligible to fill the vacancy created by Dissanayake’s demise since he was already an MP appointed through the National List.

Hence, there are now two vacancies in the UPFA list – 1 National List slot and 1 Kurunegala District slot.