SJB in favour of merger with UNP

By Yohan Perera   

There is no one in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) against a merger with the United National Party (UNP) but there are some in the latter which should be left out, an SJB MP said yesterday.   

SJB MP Hector Appuhamy told a press conference that there are some UNPers with whom his party cannot associate with.   

“We would like to merge with the UNP, but we don’t want to associate with a few in the grand old party. I don’t think there is anyone in the SJB who would oppose a merger with the UNP,” Mr. Appuhamy said.   

“SJBers including me are descendants of UNPers. However, we had to form SJB and go separately as the UNP Leadership did not do what it had to do prior to the general election. UNP should have been handed over to Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa.   

SLPP would not have obtained a two-thirds majority if such a thing happened. One will have to wait and see the dire consequences of it later,” Mr. Appuhamy added while stressing that the intention of the government may be to bring in a system where power is centred on one individual.   

Also, he said SJB will wait and see what reforms are made within the UNP.   
Mr. Appuhamy said SJB will soon appoint groups comprising its MPs to monitor the ministries.