The Elections Commission today said that Mohamed Shariff Thowfeek has been appointed to fill the UNP National List seat vacated following the resignation of A.R.A. Hafeez.

M.S. Thowfeek was nominated by the General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP), the commission said.

He was a former MP from Trincomalee District from 2000 to 2004, first from the People's Alliance and then the UNP. He returned to Parliament in 2010. He is a member of the SLMC.

UNP National List MP Abdul Rauf Abdul Hafeez resigned as a Member of Parliament on Tuesday (19), citing personal reasons.