Several prominent figures who previously contested or were appointed through the national list have decided not to run in the upcoming parliamentary election.

Some who contested the polls last time, have decided to enter parliament via the national list in 2024.

Among those opting out are four former Presidents: Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Except for Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the other three have been active in politics for nearly five decades.

Notably, many influential members who represented the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in the dissolved parliament will not be contesting or included in the national list this time. 

These include:

Chamal Rajapaksa

Dr. Nalaka Godahewa

Dr. Bandula Gunawardana

Kanaka Herath

Sisira Jayakody

Geetha Kumarasinghe

Vasudeva Nanayakkara

Anupa Pasqual

Keheliya Rambukwella

Shehan Semasinghe

John Seneviratne

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

Lohan Ratwatte

Jayantha Samaraweera

Janaka Bandara Tennakoon

Wimal Weerawansa

Sahan Pradeep Withana

D. B. Herath

Seetha Arambepola

Gunapala Rathnasekara

Wimalaweera Dissanayake

Prasanna Ranatunga

S. B. Dissanayake

Akila Ellawala

Siripala Gamlath

Gevindu Cumaratunga

Sudarshana Denipitiya

Sampath Athukorala

Vijitha Berugoda

Shan Wijeyalal De Silva

Nalaka Bandara

Kottegoda

Sudath Manjula

Mohomad Muzammil

Gayashan Nawananda

Major Pradeep Undugoda

Jagath Pushpakumara

S. Viyalanderan

Additionally, Gamini Lokuge, who has contested and won elections for many years, is included in the SLPP national list. 

Gamini Waleboda, who was elected to parliament from the SLPP last time, is now on the national list of the Sarva Jana Balaya.

Six members who contested and were elected from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) in the last parliamentary election will not be contesting or included in the national list this time. 
 

They are:

- Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka

- Patali Champika Ranawaka

- Mayantha Dissanayake

- A.H.M. Fowzie

- Lakshman Kiriella

- Niroshan Perera

Furthermore, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero, who has represented multiple parties since 2004, will not be contesting this time. 

He was last elected to parliament from the national list of the Ape Janabala Party.

Wajira Abeywardena, who filled the United National Party (UNP) national list vacancy after Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected President by parliament, will also not be contesting or included in the national list.

Charles Nirmalanathan and S. Nogarathalingam, who represented the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) in the last parliamentary election, will not be contesting this time.

Ahmad Naseer and H.M.M. Harees, who represented the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) in parliament, have also decided not to contest.

C.V. Wigneswaran, who represented the Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani (TMTK) in parliament, will not be contesting or included in any party's national list this time.