SJB confident Opposition will vote against 20A

By Asiri Fernando

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday assured that Opposition members will vote against the proposed 20th Amendment on principle, but did not rule out the possibility that some members may side with the Government at the last minute. 

The Opposition has had informal talks with several Government MP who have expressed their displeasure at the proposed 20th Amendment, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told Daily FT yesterday. 

Bandara would not comment on the number of Government MPs they had spoken to, except to say that there was significant resistance from within the Government ranks to the controversial Constitutional Amendment. 

“We have had informal discussions with a number of Government MPs, including many who have indicated that they will vote against the proposed 20th Amendment,” Bandara said, pointing out that the backlash against the Amendment was growing. 

The Government must be desperate to be fishing for votes, he opined, pointing out the Government would not be seeking to obtain votes from the Opposition if they were sure of the two-thirds majority.