SJB in trouble with allies as Sajith shuns Prez

• SLMC and TPA disappointed as Sajith  said he would not patch up with President
• Premadasa expected to contest presidental poll
• SLMC, TPA want Prez to ditch SLPP 
• election has to be conducted before October, next year?

By Kelum Bandara 

The minority allies of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) - Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) - remain disappointed after its leader Sajith Premadasa said in Parliament that he would not patch up with President Ranil Wickremesinghe in view of future elections, an informed source said.    

These two allies backed by some SJB MPs have tried hard to form an alliance between the SJB and the United National Party (UNP) led by the President to face the elections pending next year. An informed source familiar with the process told Daily Mirror yesterday that these parties and some SJB seniors believe in the need for such unity to contest the elections as a formidable force against the JVP-led National Peoples’ Power (NPP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

However, Mr. Premadasa’s open remarks against it resulted in their attempt a futile exercise. 

The mainstream political forces have begun to evolve strategies in view of the presidential election scheduled for next year. A group of SJB seniors and the party’s minority allies prefer the President to ditch the SLPP and form an alliance with them. 

According to the Constitution, the election has to be conducted before October, next year.  Mr. Premadasa has already expressed interest in contesting the election. NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake is another prospective candidate expected to be in the fray.