Several high-profile candidates narrowly missed securing seats in the Colombo District during the recent parliamentary election, with tight margins making a significant impact.
Notably, Wimal Katipearachchi from the National People’s Power (NPP) received 53,161 votes, placing 15th among NPP candidates in Colombo, just 1,500 votes shy of the 14-member cutoff. Fellow NPP prominent candidate Vrai Balthazar also fell short, finishing 18th with 44,633 votes.
In the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) camp, Eran Wickramatne missed a spot by around 2,600 votes, finishing 5th with 38,837 votes, while Hirunika Premachandra followed closely in 6th with 36,139 votes. Former Minister Mano Ganeshan trailed with 19,013 votes, landing in 7th place in the SJB lineup.
Candidates from other parties in the district did not have their preferential votes counted, as their parties failed to secure any seats in Colombo.
Colombo – NPP
1. Harini Amarasuriya – 655,289
2. Chathuranga Abeysinghe – 127,166
3. Sunil Watagala – 125,700
4. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi – 96,273
5. Aruna Panagoda – 91,081
6. Eranga Gunasekara – 85,180
7. Harshana Nanayakkara – 82,275
8. Kaushalya Ariyarathne – 80,814
9. Asitha Niroshana – 78,990
10. Dr Rizvi Salih – 73,018
11. Susantha Dodawatte – 65,391
12. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi – 63,387
13. Samanmali Gunasinghe – 59,657
14. Dewananda Suraweera – 54,680
Not elected
15. Wimal Ketipearachchi – 53,161
16. Mahinda Ratnayake – 45,590
17. Chamini Gunasekara – 45,315
18. Vrai Balthazar – 44,633
19. Parakum Shantha – 35,234
20. Sameera Alwis- 31,155
Colombo – SJB
1. Sajith Premadasa – 145,611
2. Harsha de Silva – 81,473
3. Mujibur Rahuman – 43,737
4. S M Marikkar – 41,482
Not elected
5. Eran Wickramatne – 38,837
6. Hirunika Premachandra – 36,139
7. Mano Ganeshan – 19,013
8. Janaka Nanda Kumara – 12,604
9. ARV Loshan – 12,211
10. Chamal Sanjeewa – 10,545
11. Sudath Wickramatne – 9,498
12. Gayan de Mel – 9,184
13. Jagath Kumara – 9,113
14. P. Ram – 8,957
15. Gamini Tilakasiri – 8,579
16. Channa Vikum – 6,861
17. Anuradha Wimalaratne – 6,413
18. Charith Abeysinghe – 5,413
19. Apsari Tilakaratne – 3,901
20. Gamini Jayaweera – 2,637