- SJB Gen. Secy. seeks Oppo. parties – UNP/SLPP/SLMC – support for CMC mayorship
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the SJB is prepared to take the lead in uniting all Opposition forces under a shared vision to fulfil the public call to restore a truthful and powerful public service, thereby defeating lies.
Delivering a special statement yesterday (7), Premadasa expressed gratitude to voters who stood with the SJB despite what he described as a politically hostile environment filled with “insults, threats, mudslinging, conspiracies, and challenges.”
He stressed that the SJB is ready and willing to shoulder the responsibility of guiding a united Opposition, in response to what he called a clear mandate from the people.
“The time has come for all Opposition forces to come together. The people have given us a message – to unite, stand for the truth, and build a Government that respects their voice,” he said.
Premadasa also pointed to a dramatic erosion of public support for the Government, which had received sweeping mandates in both the recent Presidential and Parliamentary/General Elections. “In just six months, public confidence (towards the Government) has plummeted. The people have spoken loud and clear – they want change, and they want unity in the Opposition,” he expressed.
He further criticised the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), accusing it of running the Local Government (LG) Elections campaign with Presidential-level intensity, including the politicisation of religion.
Reiterating his Party’s commitment, Premadasa said that the SJB is poised to lead a coalition of all Opposition forces based on transparency, principled unity, and genuine service to the people.
“As defenders of democracy, we must honour the public will. The SJB is ready to rise to the top, to lead this united front, and to fulfill the people’s demand for truthful, accountable governance,” he stated.
He further said: “I bow to all those who upheld democracy and voted for the truth. Your support was a stand against deception and a vote for a better Sri Lanka.”
Meanwhile, the SJB said that it will seek the support of other Opposition parties to elect the Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) as the Opposition holds a majority in the Council. Despite the National People’s Power (NPP) winning the most number of seats, the Opposition parties hold a majority in the CMC, and the SJB will seek support from other Opposition parties to elect its own Mayor, SJB General Secretary and Opposition Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara said.
The NPP had secured the most number of votes in the CMC and won a total of 48 seats after polling over 81,000 votes (36.92%) in the 2025 LG Elections.
However, the NPP failed to secure an overall majority in the CMC, the oldest and the largest LG Authority in the island and the Municipal governing body of the largest City and financial centre in Sri Lanka.
The SJB polled 58,375 votes to secure 29 seats, while the United National Party (UNP) obtained 26,297 votes to claim 13 seats. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have secured five and four seats, respectively.