The accused in two controversial court cases and wives and sons of sitting MPs as well as former political bigwigs are among the candidates contesting the forthcoming polls to elect new administrations to five Provincial Councils, political sources said.

Apart from them, many Municipal Councillors, Urban Councillors and Pradeshiya Sabha members too are to contest the election, the sources said.

The JVP has fielded the first accused in the August 18, 1987 parliament grenade attack case, Ranasinghe Randunu Mudiyanselage Ajith Kumara as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the Sabaragamuwa province.

He was among five persons indicted on ten counts including conspiracy to commit the murder of the then president, J. R. Jayewardene, and attempting to commit the murder of the then National Security Minister, Lalith Athulathmudali.

The then Premier Ranasinghe Premadasa was also slightly wounded in the attack which killed Matara District MP Keerthi Abeywickreme.

Ajith Kumara was released from prison on August 6, 1993. A member of the JVP's decision-making body, Ajith Kumara has been active in politics.

Strangely, the PA's Chief Ministerial candidate for the Western province , Susil Premjayanth was among the lawyers who appeared for Ajith Kumara's defence.

Mr. U. L. Seneviratne , one of the accused in the Lalith Athulathmudali assassnation case is contesting the Western Provincial Council on the UNP ticket. Seneviratne, a close associate of the then President, Ranasinghe Premadasa and other senior party men particularly from the Colombo Central has been active in politics despite facing investigations. A poster campaign has been launched in Colombo in support of U. L. Seneviratne, declaring that in the end the truth will prevail.

Both the PA and the UNP have fielded many close relatives of politicians. The PA has fielded the sons of Ministers, A. H. M. Fowzie and Alavi Moulana. Both contest the WPC. Fowzie's son, Nauzer appeared to have launched one of the most expensive poster and billboard campaigns in the City and the suburbs.

The PA has also fielded the Deputy Minister, Reggie Ranatunga's son , Prasanna. He too contests the WPC. Prasanna also has come forward to contest the Vice-President's post of the Cricket Board.

The PA's Gampaha District MP Jinadasa Nandasena allegedly involved in several PC polls related incidents in the Peliyagoda police area has been able to secure nomination for his son, Channa.

The PA has also given nomination to lawyer Nandana Mendis to contest the WPC. He is the younger brother of former UNP minister and MP, Wijeyapala Mendis.

Minister Berty Premalal's wife is contesting the North Central Provincial Council. In the Sabaragamuwa province, the slain MP, Nalanda Ellawela's mother, Surangani has been given the PA ticket to contest the Sabaragamuwa PC.

In the Central province, the PA has fielded the late MP, Yasaratne Tennakoon's son, Thilina Bandara, the chairman of the Gagawatakoraleye Pradeshiya Sabha.

The UNP too has fielded several sons of former Ministers. Former Speaker E. L. Senanayake's sons, Raja and Kesara are both contesting the Central province while former Minister, E. L. B. Hurulle's son, Themiya is contesting the North Central Province council.

Former UNP Deputy Minister P. B. Kaviratne's son, Sanjeeva married to former UNP minister Wijeratne Banda's daughter, Rohini is contesting the Central PC on the UNP ticket. Former Minister , A. M. S. Adikari's wife, Rani is contesting the North Central Province.

Former SLMP [Ossie faction] leader Ossie Abeygoonesekera's brother, Senaka is contesting the Western Provincial Council. Ossie was among many who died along with the UNP presidential candidate, Gamini Dissanayake in the Thotalanga bomb blast. Former Colombo Mayor, Ratnasiri Rajapakse and also former Speaker M. H. Mohamed's son, Shahul are among the others fielded by the UNP.

The former General Secretary of the CWC, Sellasamy's wife, Wellamma has been given the UNP ticket to contest the WPC while the CWC leader, S. Thondaman's grandson, Arumugam is contesting the Central Province from the CWC.

An official of the Presidential Secretariat, Lasantha Alagiyawanne is contesting the WPC on the PA ticket.

Political sources said that many relatives of politicians contested the January 25 poll in the North Western Province. Minister D. P. Wickremesinghe's son, Niranjan and MP R. S. D. Jayaratne's son, Priyankara were made ministers after they won the Manape battle of the Wayamba poll.

Puttalam District MP, D. M. Dassanayake's wife, Indrani was made the vice chairman of the Wayamba PC.

The former UNP Minister Festus Perera's wife, Mary Larine was elected to the Wayamba PC. She was among the candidates who have refused to take oaths against the government's failure to conduct the Wayamba poll peacefully.

However, former Minister Harold Herath's wife, Gwen had not been lucky. She contested on the UNP ticket but failed to enter the Wayamba PC.

Former Ceylon Bank Employees Union [CBEU] boss, Rusiripala is contesting the WPC on the UNP ticket.

Political sources said that candidates included owners of wine stores, lawyers, vehicle dealers and others with connections to politicians.

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