Imthiaz Bakeer Makar resigns from SJB chairmanship

Wednesday, 19 March 2025 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Imthiaz Bakeer Makar

The main Opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Chairman Imthiaz Bakeer Markar yesterday announced resignation from all positions and responsibilities.

In a letter addressed to the party leader Sajith Premadasa, he stated: “I hereby kindly inform you that from today (18 March), I have decided to step down from the position of party Chairman and all other responsibilities.”

He also thanked Premadasa for appointing him as the Chairman of the SJB.

“From the efforts to create the party, in carrying out the party’s activities, from the party leadership to the last member—I express my gratitude for the trust placed in me by the membership,” he noted.

Bakeer Markar, who is a veteran politician, was instrumental in forming the SJB after its split from the United National Party (UNP) in 2020.

Following the 2024 Presidential election, Bakeer Markar put forward a comprehensive framework to reignite the SJB by advocating for stronger inner-party democracy and a merit-based approach to leadership.

“I hope that the future activities of the party will be fully successful by reviving the aspirations of all Sri Lankans and party members,” the letter read, which was copied to SJB’s General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, National Organiser Tissa Attanayake and Treasurer Dr. Harsha de Silva.

Markar had entered UNP as a student political leader in the 1970s, and led its national student and youth wings prior to taking elected office.

Bakeer Markar’s political career began under the guidance of the late Dudley Senanayake in the UNP, where he rose through the ranks, serving under four former Presidents; J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, D.B. Wijetunga and Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He held key ministerial positions, including State Minister of Housing (1988-1993) under late President Premadasa and Minister of Media, Postal, and Telecommunications under former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe (2002-2004).

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