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Did Sajith block Karu’s entry to Parliament?

22 Jul 2022

  • Two SJB National List MPs, Harin and Mayantha, were willing to make way for Karu
  • Premadasa dismisses allegation as ‘rubbish’
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Although two Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National List Opposition MPs had expressed their desire to resign from their positions as MPs to enable former Speaker of Parliament and incumbent National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Chairman Karu Jayasuriya the opportunity to enter Parliament, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa had allegedly vetoed the move, The Morning learnt. Speaking to The Morning, sources close to Premadasa claimed that in the early days of the talks regarding the formation of an interim all party Government in the wake of the economic crisis in the country, there were discussions within the SJB about giving Jayasuriya the opportunity to enter Parliament. The sources further claimed that during those discussions, two National List MPs representing the SJB, namely Mayantha Dissanayake who is also related to Jayasuriya, and incumbent Minister Harin Fernando, had expressed their consent to resign as MPs and to give Jayasuriya the opportunity to enter the Parliament. According to the sources, discussions had been held regarding offering Jayasuriya a high-level position in an interim Government to be formed according to that plan.  However, the sources alleged that Premadasa had not provided permission to Dissanayake or Fernando to resign. According to the sources, it was one reason that Fernando had subsequently accepted a Ministerial post in the Government led by then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and then-Prime Minister and incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The sources opined that if Premadasa had, at that time, given Jayasuriya the opportunity to enter Parliament, Jayasuriya could have been appointed to the position of the President left vacant by the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, with the agreement of all the parties, a vacancy which has since been filled by Wickremesinghe. However, when The Morning contacted the Opposition Leader, he vehemently rejected the claim. “Don’t create stories! What rubbish,” said Premadasa. In April, 2022, The Morning reported that Jayasuriya was likely to be given a leading position in an interim all party Government to be formed, considering the economic and political crisis situation in the country. Sources said at the time, that in such a case, several parties, including groups that had left the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led Government and since declared themselves as independent in the Parliament, and the Opposition, would have agreed to facilitate his appointment as a MP from the National List. When contacted to inquire about such reports at the time, Jayasuriya said: “I have not applied for any post, but I know that people are talking about such a matter. So let us consider it if such an invitation is received. We are ready to fulfill any role in order to build the country.”  


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