‘UNP and SJB legally separated’

• Following Colombo District Court decision not to issue injunction order against suspension of 99 members

By Yohan Perera   

The UNP and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has been legally separated following the decision of the Colombo District Court not to issue an injunction order against the suspension of 99 members who had joined the latter, UNP higher-ups said yesterday.    

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and its National Organizer Navin Dissanayake came out with this remark at a news conference yesterday.   
“No SJB member can come inside the gates of Sirikotha and make any demand after the decision given by the District Courts yesterday,” Mr. Kariywasam said.   
“The Supreme Court has accepted that the UNP’s decision to suspend 99 members who sought nomination from SJB,” he added.   
“The UNP has become stronger today and will get the maximum amount of seats in Parliament. We will also form a government,” he said.   

Mr. Dissanayake said any one who is willing to come back to the UNP would however be welcomed.   
At the same time it was revealed that the Deputy Leader’s post and other posts would not be filled before the election.   

However SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the case filed against the UNP by his party was far from being over. 

“The District Court only refused to issue an injunction order as requested by us but it had summoned UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake and General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam,” he said.