• We are ready for Committee debate – Kabir Hashim
• We will take a decision soon says MP Herath, questions why SJB delayed their response

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday (19) issued a fresh set of dates for debate between a committee of experts and another debate between the leaders of its party and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP).

This, barely a day before the NPP-set deadline – of today (20) for the debate to be held. The tug-of-war regarding the proposed ‘debate’ has resulted in many disagreements and posturing and finger pointing between the two opposition parties, both vying to replace the SLPP-UNP led Government at the upcoming polls.  

In a letter to the NPP’s Executive Committee Member, former Parliamentarian (MP), Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, SJB Head of Operations, MP Nalin Bandara proposed the dates 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 May  for the debate between the economic councils of the two parties, while proposing the dates 3,4,5,6, and 7 June for the leaders' debate. 

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (19), SJB Opposition MP Kabir Hashim, who is also a member of the party’s economic council, said that his team is always ready for the debate. Therefore, he said there is no hesitation within the party regarding the two debates.

The NPP, which proposed 20 May as the final date for the debate, is yet to decide on the newly proposed dates by the SJB, said its MP, Vijitha Herath. Speaking to The Daily Morning, Herath noted that the NPP will take a decision regarding the dates after having a discussion in the days to come. “After giving them a dozen days, we asked them to set up a date before 20 May. But they did not. They had more than enough time to decide. Now, they have sent a few days again, proposing that the economic council debate be held first. We will be taking a decision soon, and it will decide the future of this debate,” he said.

However, speaking to the media last week, Dr. Jayatissa said that the NPP will not take part in the debate if the SJB refuses to hold the debate before 20 May, claiming that they are continuously disregarding the dates proposed by the NPP.

Last month (22 April), the NPP officially informed the SJB that they are prepared to hold the proposed debate between the leaders of the two parties — SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and JVP and NPP Leader and Opposition Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake — on one of the following days: 7 May, 9 May, 13 May, or 14 May. In a letter sent by Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa to SJB General Secretary, Opposition MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the NPP said that certain misunderstandings and speculations might be raised among the public regarding the debate if setting out a date is further delayed. The letter further said that a venue, a television channel, and the duration of the debate can be decided after setting out a specific date. 

However, following the SJB’s refusal to accept the given dates, the NPP declared 20 May as the final date for the debate.