Several UNP Ministers have raised serious concerns over the news reports referring former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka's possible appointment as a national list MP from the UNP. 

 

It was widely speculated that the UNP would appoint Fonseka to the national list slot left vacant by former Minister M.K.D.S. Gunawardena who died recently. 

 

Fonseka, in the recent past, ran into various issues with some senior Cabinet ministers, including Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa. He strongly criticised the Justice Minister citing the latter's alleged links with Nisshanka Senadhipathy, the owner of Avant Garde private security firm who was at the centre of a major controversy.

 

The UNP Ministers protesting the move had said any attempt to appoint Fonseka would violate the party's policy of not appointing defeated candidates from the national list. 

 

The former Army Commander contested the last Parliamentary election from the Democratic Party, but failed to secure a seat. Although Fonseka was invited to contest the election on the UNP ticket for the Kurunegala district, he opted to contest separately.

 

Apart from Fonseka, three other names have also been proposed for the national list slot. They are former Minister Suranimala Rajapaksa, Krishantha Prasad Cooray and Erwin Weerakkody. All three of them were national list candidates of the UNP at the last Parliamentary election.