More key political figures have backed out from contesting the November 14 General Election, marking an end to their parliamentary careers and paving way for the new Parliament to have new faces representing the political parties.

Yesterday alone, three key politicians, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Wimal Weerawansa and Shehan Semasinghe said they will not contest the upcoming polls, marking an end to their parliamentary politics.

In a statement, Champika Ranawaka said his political party, the United Republic Front will not contest the General Election claiming that the 'Samagi Jana Sandanaya' violated the agreement signed with them on August 14, 2024.

In a media briefing held in Colombo, Ranawaka, who was a key figure in the SJB alliance said that the UNF was expecting to contest in eleven districts as per the MoU which was signed last month with the 'Samagi Jana Sandanaya' during the Presidential election campaign.

However, he said they realized during the nomination process that their MoU was violated unreasonably and therefore they decided not to field any candidates for the upcoming General Election. "We have informed the SJB in writing that we will not field any candidates," he said.

Ranawaka further said the UNF will not join any other camp nor contest alone.

Wimal Weerawansa, in a separate announcement said that he and his National Freedom Front (NFF) will not contest the General Election, with an excuse that there was a need for the National People's Power (NPP) government to secure a majority in Parliament.

Weerawansa said there is no doubt that some opposition forces who are acting on the imperialist agenda intend to see President Anura Kumara Dissanayake end up being a 'second Gotabaya' and that the NFF will not be a party to such agendas, putting the country into further crisis.

He said it is no secret that some hostile foreign forces wanted to incite clashes utilizing the uncertain situation after the Presidential election results and create a situation similar to Bangladesh.

Former State Minister Shehan Semasinghe from the SLPP also announced that he will not contest the General Election but will not quit politics.

In a statement, he said that respecting the people's desire for change in government and Parliament, he had decided not to contest the Nov.14 election but would continue to serve the people of Anuradhapura.

In the meantime, some senior SLPPers such as Dullas Alahapperuma and Nalaka Godahewa who backed Sajith Premadasa in the Presidential Election, have not been given nominations from the SJB and they have also been denied national list seats, the Daily Mirror learns.

G.L. Peiris will enter Parliament through the SJB national list along with Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Sujeewa Senasinghe and Imthiaz Bakeer Markar.

Senior SJBer Lakshman Kiriella will also not contest and will not be considered for a national list seat since his daughter Chamindrani Bandara Kiriella will be contesting from the Kandy District.

Already senior figures such as former Presidents Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena will not contest the General Election, marking an end to their parliamentary careers while other key figures such as Ali Sabry, Chamal Rajapaksa, Bandula Gunawardena, Gamini Lokuge and John Seneviratne have said they too will back out from contesting the General Election.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and former Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will enter Parliament through the national list under the gas cylinder symbol.

In the North, ITAK president Mavai Senathirajah and former Northern Province chief minister C.V. Wigneswaran will not be contesting this time.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the government is to establish a mechanism to supervise and advice ministries in the implementation of policies, a source said.

A tense situation was reported at the UNP party headquarters in Sirikotha when a group of UNP supporters arrived to hand over a document on reviving the party.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva said today that an NPP MP has told him that the Parliament canteen will not be closed but the government will see that no one will abuse the facility.

Two fishermen were seriously injured and hospitalised after a parcel floating on the sea exploded while they were checking it off the coast of Mannar.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Examinations Department have initiated a joint programme to mitigate potential disasters during the 2024 Advanced Level examinations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka today. Following are 11 key points from the President’s Government Policy Statement;

Speaker Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala informed Parliament that nomination of Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been accepted as the Opposition Leader of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Jaffna District Independent MP Archuuna Ramanathan refused to move away after he sat on the Opposition Leader's seat inside the chambers despite requests by Parliament staff to move.

National People's Power (NPP) Gampaha MP Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka a short while ago. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya proposed his name, and the nomination was confirmed by Vijitha Herath.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake adjourned the Sri Lankan Parliament until 9:30 a.m. on December 3. The adjournment followed the President’s delivery of the government’s policy statement during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament earlier today.