SJB decides not to attend meeting with PM

By Yohan Perera   

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB) has decided not to participate in the meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday. 

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told the Daily Mirror  last night that former SJB MPs numbering about 70 decided not to meet  Prime Minister Rajapaksa on May 4.   

He said the party will put out an official media statement  explaining why it decided not to participate in the meeting.    

Earlier, SJB spokesman Harin Fernando told the Daily Mirror that his party would meet today to decide whether they would participate in Monday’s meeting with Prime Minister Rajapaksa.  Prime Minister Rajapaksa invited all 224 MPs for a meeting at Temple Trees on Monday, May 4.   

“We will have to discuss the matter and come up with a good decision on the matter,” he said.   
Meanwhile, former MP Fernando who addressed a media conference earlier insisted that Parliament should be reconvened in order to get approval for funding and it would avoid a constitutional crisis.