Several UNP members pledge support to SJB

• We decided to back former Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa and SJB as we don’t condone these deals within the UNP and the government

By Yohan Perera

Several former UNP members of the Western Provincial Council and several Opposition Leaders of local bodies in the Kalutara District pledged their support to Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) over the weekend.   

Former Members of the Western Provincial Council Keerthi Kariyawasam, Jagath Withana, Opposition Leader of the Matugama Pradeshiya Sabha Hinton Manage, Opposition Leader of Dodangoda Pradeshiya Sabha Priyantha Priyadarshana together with Jagath Withana announced their decision to support SJB.   

Mr. Withana who led the press conference alleged that current UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had got into a deal with the government to safeguard the corrupt and to safeguard those who are accused of the Bond scam. “Mr. Wickremesinghe together with the Rajapaksas are trying to defend those who are accused of the bond scam,” Mr. Withana said.   

“We decided to back former Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa and SJB as we don’t condone these deals within the UNP and the government,” he said.   

Majority of Members in the Maharagama Pradeshiya Sabha last week pledged their support to SJB while majority of members in the Colombo, Moratuwa Municipal Councils and Homagama Urban Council pledged support to UNP and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.   

Meanwhile, UNP has said those members of the local bodies who support SJB will be expelled from the party and thus they would lose their membership of the respective local bodies.