19 March 2020 12:09 am
By Yohan Perera
Former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has been appointed as the National Organiser of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) its Leader Sajith Premadasa said on Tuesday .
Mr Premadasa who made this announcement at a press conference said he had to stop Attanayake from contesting from the Kandy District to appoint him as SJB National Organiser. “I had to stop Mr Attanayake’s campaign which was already begun to appoint him as our National Organiser,” he said.
“Mr Attanayake has not put any conditions to accept the post,” he added.
Mr Attanayake said he always believed he could be elected as an MP from the Kandy District but had to give up the idea of contesting following the request made by Mr Premadasa to accept the SJB national organiser’s post. “I wilfully accepted the post though I believe that I could get myself elected as an MP from the Kandy District,” he said.
It was mentioned that Mr Attanayake will be appointed to Parliament as a national list MP.
Meanwhile, it was also announced that former MP Harin Fernando will be appointed as the head of the SJB campaign.
Mr Fernando said the most important thing now is to save the country from COVID-19. “We have a government which only thinks of obtaining a two-thirds majority in the next Parliament. “The government should think of delivering the nation from COVID-19,” he said while highlighting that the number of cases in the country has increased.
I had to stop Mr Attanayake’s campaign which was already begun to appoint him as our National Organiser
“SJB focus will be to see the country through the present crisis and not thinking of winning the election,” he said.
Pic by Pradeep Pathirana