brand logo

Sunny Side Up: Dissention grows in SJB group

07 May 2022

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentary group meeting last Monday (2) saw several parliamentarians expressing displeasure about the manner in which the party has been handling certain functions. The key issues discussed had been the party’s May Day celebrations the day before, Sunday (1), and the actions of certain factions outside the main decision-making bodies of the party and the parliamentary group that had resulted in the sidelining of many MPs. At the outset of the meeting, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa had expressed his displeasure at MP Sarath Fonseka’s conduct during the May Day rally where he had clashed with MP Harin Fernando. Premadasa’s comments had been in response to a question posed about the clash during the May Day rally by MP P. Digambaram. SJB MP Hesha Vithanage had claimed that Premadasa had formed this party (SJB) after objecting to the factions that existed in the United National Party (UNP). “Now there are similar factions in the SJB and we have been sidelined by this group,” he had complained. Objections had then been raised against the failure to allocate time for a young MP to address the gathering. “If there was no young party member, at least the General Secretary’s daughter who is waiting to contest at the next election should have been given the chance,” one MP had said, making everyone laugh. The group had also noted that while there were two female MPs of the SJB, neither of them had been given time to speak. MP Rohini Kavirathna had also joined in, expressing displeasure by saying that the party had portrayed her on the digital screen as a member who had not signed the No-Confidence Motions (NCMs) presented by the party against the Government and the President.  She had explained that she had had to give explanations to many who had questioned her saying that she had already signed in favour of the NCMs. She had added that her signature and MP Chaminda Wijesiri’s signature had been placed on the document even without seeing the contents of the motions. The MPs had claimed that a group affiliated to Premadasa was trying to control the party, undermining the members who work at the grass-roots level.


More News..