They are named to the National List over the request of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has already signed nominations for the upcoming General election under the UPFA ticket.

Meanwhile, several Provincial councillors who had crossed over from the UNP to support Mahinda Rajapaksa during the last Presidential election, have decided to contest the General election as a collective - Eksath Jathika Peramuna (United National Front) led by Tissa Attanayake.