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SJB common alliance to contest polls

12 Jan 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has commenced discussions with political parties and civil society organisations to form a common political alliance to contest the forthcoming elections, according to SJB National Organiser and Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (11), Attanayake said that the said alliance would be formed under the leadership of Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa and that the SJB is already working in alliance with several parties. However, he said that discussions are underway with several political parties and civil society organisations to expand the existing alliance to contest the forthcoming elections. “The formation of political alliances is something that any political party hopes for. Accordingly, the SJB also hopes to form a broad alliance with other political parties and civil society organisations, thereby broadening the existing alliance. Some preliminary discussions have already been held in this regard. However, there are a number of matters to be discussed, such as the policies on which we can work together,” claimed Attanayake. Noting that the said alliance will be formed based on political parties and civil society organisations, he added, however, that individuals would also be considered for inclusion in the alliance in the future. The SJB is a political alliance led by Premadasa formed to contest the General Election in 2020. In February 2020, the Election Commission announced that it had accepted the SJB as a recognised political party. Some other political parties, including the Jathika Hela Urumaya, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and the Tamil Progressive Alliance, joined the SJB in February 2020. The SJB won 54 seats and became the main Opposition in Parliament six months after its formation.


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