Central Provincial Council member Azath Salley expressed his opposition to the UNP national list, saying that the Muslim community has been unfairly treated by the party.

Salley said that the UNP had broken the promise given him and further said that he was contemplating resigning from the Provincial Council.

He added that all the Muslim national list MPs appointed by the UNP are members of other parties, namely the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress. Although 99 percent of Muslims support the UNP, no Muslim member of the party has been appointed through the national list, he added.

Salley had wanted nominations to contest under the UNP in Kandy District and once even said that he will contest independently if not given nomination. However, it was agreed that he would campaign in the east instead and the UNP added him to the national list. He was unable to obtain nominations from the UNP from Kandy District since the SLMC also decided to contest under the UNP ticket.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem, a staunch political rival of Salley, contested from Kandy District.