• EC Chair says they merely gazette names sent by authorised gen. secys., notes non-involvement in intra-party conflicts   

The Election Commission (EC) defended its decision to gazette the name of former Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake as a National List Member of Parliament, following the controversy associated with the New Democratic Front’s (NDF) National List seats.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (20), EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake emphasised that the EC's duty is limited to the administrative procedure of gazetting the names forwarded by party officials, regardless of internal disputes. Rathnayake clarified the EC’s responsibilities concerning the National List process. He stated: "Once a name is sent by the general secretary of a party, we should gazette it. It is the only duty that we have. It is not our duty to interfere in internal party matters. We should gazette the name that is sent to us. We have no duty beyond that. That is all." According to him, the EC is not responsible for the internal dynamics of political parties, nor does it possess the authority to withhold a name once it is sent to the EC. "Our sole responsibility is to gazette the names submitted by the authorised general secretary. The EC’s involvement ends there,“ he reiterated.

He made these remarks following a Gazette notification issued by the EC on Monday (18), confirming that Karunanayake has been elected as an MP through the National List of the NDF, which contested the recent General Election under the ‘Gas Cylinder’ symbol. However, the announcement has stirred controversy within the NDF. NDF Leader, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, reportedly expressed concerns that the decision to nominate Karunanayake was made unilaterally. Wickremesinghe indicated that the nomination lacked his consent and that of the other alliance partners.

The NDF, formed by the United National Party (UNP), the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and the ‘Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna’, secured three MP seats and two National List seats in the 2024 General Election. The EC's stance remains firm, highlighting its limited role in the nomination process.

Several attempts were made to contact former MPs, UNP Chairperson Wajira Abeywardana, Kanchana Wijesekara and Dr. Ramesh Pathirana proved futile.