Sri Lanka, April 8 -- Former State Minister Ajith Mannapperuma is to be appointed to fill the vacancy left by Ranjan Ramanayake, a senior election commission official said.

He said the Parliament Secretary-General had informed the Election Commissioner yesterday about the vacant seat of former parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake.

The Elections Commission informed the Gampaha District Returning Officer to name the next-in-line candidate in the District.

Accordingly, the Gampaha District Government Agent (GA) was informed to nominate the next-in-line candidate in the party, he said.

However, the Gampaha GA has not informed officially about the next candidate as yet. As soon as the name is announced, the gazette notification will be issued, ...