The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) has announced that it will not attend the meeting called by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuses the current situation in the country. Rajapaksa last Thursday (30) extended an invitation to the 225 former MPs to attend a meeting at the Temple Trees next Monday (4). SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara issuing a statement today said that there was no point attending the meeting at a time when the President has dismissed requests to convene parliament to look at solutions to an impending constitutional crisis. He added that such a gathering will not have the powers to pass necessary laws or seek measures to address the  constitutional concern. "We stand by our position to reconvene Parliament under the former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya." "We have supported the measures taken by the government to curb the coronavirus even through they may have had shortfalls." Maddumabandara however noted that it was disappointing to see the government arrest critics and politicize the relief programmes. On Friday (1) the JVP rejected the PM's invitation noting that there was no use of holding a meeting.