Some SJB and Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya giants missing at the signing ceremony

• Positions in the new alliance led by the SJB are yet to be decided

By Yohan Perera   

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday signed an MoU with a group of Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya (NJS) MPs.   

NJS MPs - Professor G. L. Peiris, Dilan Perera, Nalaka  Godahewa, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, Upul Galappaththi and K. P. Kumarasiri  were the signatories. Professor G. L. Peiris is the founder member  chairman of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and later crossed over  to the opposition as a group under the leadership of MP Dullas  Alahapperuma. They pledged their support to Leader of Opposition Sajith  Premadasa and finally signed an MoU with the SJB yesterday.   

Asked as to why Mr. Alahapperuma did not join, Professor  Peiris said he is expected to join the alliance later. “We believe that  Dullas is with us. Besides this is only a beginning of a vast exercise.  Therefore we believe he will join us,” he said. 

MP Dilan Perera said three MPs are to join the new party,  which is to be formed by Former Minister Roshan Ranasinghe. “We hope  that MP Ranasinghe’s party will join our alliance later,” he said.   

“We are whip crackers who walk in front in a Perahera. We hope to form a grand alliance later,” he added.   
Asked as to why SJB Chairman Sarath Fonseka and others were  missing from yesterday’s signing, SJB General Secretary Ranjith  Madduma Bandara said people such as Fonseka were irrelevant for it. “I  am the General Secretary of SJB. Therefore, anyone who wants to sign the  MoU has to do it with me. People such as Fonseka are not relevant in  such a scenario,” he said.   

Also, he said the positions in the new alliance led by the SJB are yet to be decided.   
Meanwhile, MP Godahewa confirmed that SJB leader Sajith  Premadasa often seeks advice from him. “A leader has to consult as many  party members as possible when taking decisions but he is expected to  seek the right advice and make the right decisions,” the MP said.