SJB preps for Elections, launches party office

• Premadasa says preparations for campaign gaining momentum 
• Expects campaign events to also be held at Sirikotha eventually 

In preparation for the upcoming General Elections, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday said that it will be launching its party office and operations centre on Monday (9 March). 

SJB leader Sajith Premadasa made the statement at a press conference held yesterday, where he said the SJB is making necessary perpetrations to face the Elections. “We will be launching our party office on Monday, and as it is a Poya day, we will commence with a Buddhist sermon” he said. 

Responding to a question, Premadasa said the Party office will also house the party’s election operations centre. When questioned why the United National Party (UNP) headquarters was not being used for the task, Premadasa pointed out that ‘Sirikotha’ may well be part of the effort later on. “Everything will fall into place at the right time” he opined. 

The UNP working committee, at its last meeting, had sought to sign a MoU with the SJB for the upcoming Election in a move to preserve party unity and prevent the fragmentation of it. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara last week expressed hope that a MoU between the parties will end the stalemate and invited the UNP to do so. 

“The UNP working committee has approved a resolution to sign a MoU with us (SJB). Therefore we invite them to come to an agreement and sign a MoU,” Bandara said at a press conference the day before. 

Premadasa also criticised the Government for the ongoing political victimisation, which he claimed had cost thousands of State sector employees their jobs. He warned the Government not to engage in such activities and rejected claims of the State sector employees’ contracts terminating as the reason for their dismissals.

Pic by Pradeep Pathirana