Dr. Harsha de Silva and Eran Wickremaratne recently gained prominence among the masses as two United National Party (UNP) members who speak, debate and explain issues relating to the economy to the masses.

Though they were appointed to the former Parliament as members through the National List, for the first time they contested the Colombo District under the UNP list at the just concluded general elections.

During the run-up to the general elections, some said that these two would find it difficult to contest under the existing preferential voting system and hence, as intellectuals it would be better for both to enter Parliament through the National List.

Another argument was that former Minister and Jathika Hela Urumaya leader Patali Champika Ranawaka and Hirunika Premachandra contesting this election under the UNP’s strong list would be disadvantageous to Harsha de Silva and Eran Wickremaratne.

However, according to the preference votes Dr. Harsha de Silva having obtained 114,148 preferences is third and Eran Wickremaratne with 82,738 preferences is eighth in the UNP’s Colombo District list.

While expressing his views on this victory, Dr. Harsha de Silva told the media that the people have reposed great faith on him and that he too never expected such a victory.

Several prominent UNP strongmen obtaining lesser preferential votes at this election is a prominent feature.

During the propaganda campaign for the just-concluded general elections, both Harsha and Eran had stated that they were against the Super Gains Tax imposed by the previous interim government’s budget.

With the UNP’s five-fold process policy declaration for the last general election stressing on a Social Market Economy, Dr. Harsha de Silva and Eran Wickremaratne were two candidates who committed themselves more than the others to take these economic policies among the people.