The New Democratic Party (NDF), in a hard hitting statement, claimed yesterday that the appointment of Ravi Karunanayke as an MP on its National List had been made in terms of an agreement the NDF finalised with the Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna, Sri Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya, Podujana Eksath Peramuna, Nawa Sandhanaya and the UNP in the run-up to the Nov., 14 general election.

NDF General Secretary Sharmila Perera has said the constituents of the NDF alliance had agreed to grant a National List slot to her party. She said her party had named former Minister Karunanayake, an NDF National List nominee, in keeping with a written agreement.

The Working Committee of the NDF had decided on the NL appointment on 17 Nov, she said, adding that Karunanayake had represented the party on its NL way back during Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s presidency when they contested under the People’s Alliance ticket.

The NDF Secretary dismissed UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s criticism of her actions. She stressed that the NDF had gone ahead with the appointment in question as the other parties had failed to name their nominee by Nov. 18 as directed by the Election Commission.