• Gen. Secy. Maddumabandara says Party unaware of Fonseka planning to leave ranks   

Amidst several media outlets reporting that the Chairperson of the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Parliamentarian and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has decided to contest for the Presidency at the upcoming Presidential Election when Party and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has already announced his candidature, the SJB claimed that no SJB MP will join him (Fonseka) in leaving the Party.

Citing sources close to Fonseka, the media has reported that he (Fonseka) is to announce his candidature next month (June), and that he is to contest as an independent candidate instead of joining forces with any mainstream political party. The reports also claimed that Fonseka has managed to secure the support of a group of SJB MPs, and that unofficial discussions are currently going on with MPs and politicians from other political parties.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (22), SJB General Secretary and MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that the SJB has not been notified about the matter thus far by any verified sources, even though the media reports such news from time to time to create splits within the Party. He also said that this is not the first time that such news has been circulated, but that no MP has left the SJB thus far, as claimed by various parties. Speaking further, he claimed that no SJB MP will support him (Fonseka) if Fonseka runs for the Presidency from another party, observing that all the SJB MPs would support Premadasa to become the President. He assured this, stating that almost all the MPs and a number of former MPs have already pledged their unwavering support to the SJB’s Presidential candidate. 

Moreover, he said that the SJB has already started discussions with ethnic minority parties in view of the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections and who are almost ready to support Premadasa’s candidature.

Earlier this year (2024), the Colombo District Court issued an injunction, temporarily preventing the suspension of Fonseka from his positions within the SJB and the Party membership in the SJB.