More gravy for politicos’ relatives

Youth Affairs Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi’s husband Kanchana was very likely to top the Ratnapura UPFA list, political sources said. Although the top SLFP leadership had initially declined to accommodate the former Sub Inspector on the Ratnapura list, the minister managed to reverse the decision at the last moment, the sources said.Irrigation Minister Jayatissa Ranaweera’s son Ravindra, too, was among the 13 successful UPFA candidates, the sources said. Among the candidates fielded by the ruling coalition were nominees of the UNP Democratic Group. They included Amarakeerthi Atukorale, a coordinating secretary to C. A. Suriyaarachchi, non-Cabinet Minister of Land and Land Development. The UNP Democratic Group fielded three candidates in the Kegalle and two in Anuradhapura districts.Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne’s son Dr. Parakrama Seneviratne and the minister’s son-in-law, too, contested the Kegalle district.Junior Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya’s first cousin who is also his coordinating secretary contested the Kegalle district.Indigenous Medicine Minister Tissa Karaliyadde’s sister Kalyanawathie the present chairperson of the Kebitigollewa Pradeshiya Sabha contested the Anuradhapura district on the UPFA ticket.Former UNP Minister A. M. S. Adikari’s wife Rani contested the Anuradhapura district on the UNP ticket.