“Time for SJB to put itself out of disarray” - MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardhana - Opinion

“Time for SJB to put itself out of disarray” - MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardhana

5 March 2024 12:00 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

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There are disputes within the party, but we have to resolve these issues as soon as possible
The health ministry is not what it used to be now
We have successfully established bala mandalas in Kegalle and Ratnapura
Myself, MPs Hector Appuhamy and Nisroshan Perera were lobbying for justice for the Easter Sunday bomb victims
The Catholic vote had gone in favour of the UNP in the past. however SJB had captured a great portion of these votes in 2020
We were expecting to have the balamandala in Gampaha
The Government promised to bring in Scotland Yard and carry out an international probe, but it has not kept its promise

It has reached a state where MPs in the Samagi Jana Balawgaya (SJB) have begun to admit that there are divisions within the party. One of the MPs who accept that there are disputes in the party is MP for Gampaha District Dr. Kavinda Jayawardhana. In an interview with Daily Mirror, the MP called for unity within the party. He stated that unity is of paramount importance when facing challenges posed by other parties during upcoming elections.
He said, “It is time for SJB
to put itself out
of disarray as an
important election is
approaching fast”.
Excerpts of the interview
Q: What party activities are you involved in these days?
We have carried out a youth programme of the party and have been establishing Yowun Bala Mandalas (Youth Councils) in some areas. We have successfully established bala mandalas in Kegalle and Ratnapura. We were expecting to have the balamandala in Gampaha.
Q: You come from a predominantly catholic area. There was a repeated plea from the catholic leaders in Sri Lanka- including Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith- who had conveyed that the people must elect a new group to lead this country. Where do you think the catholic vote would go in
future elections?
The Catholic vote had gone in favour of the UNP in the past. However SJB seemed to have captured a great portion of these votes in 2020. We feel that the situation would remain the same since SJB
is also a new party.
Q: You together with other catholic MPs in your party lobbied for the justice of Easter Sunday bomb victims and their relatives. Has your lobbying been successful and are you happy with the progress of investigations?

Myself, MPs Hector Appuhamy and Nisroshan Perera were lobbying for justice for the Easter Sunday bomb victims and their relatives. We went to the Office of the Human Rights UN and took up the case. I also took it up with the secretary of state Vatican. The Government promised to bring in Scotland Yard and carry out an international probe. However the Government had not kept its promise. We shall be lobbying for it in the future as well.
Q: There seemed to be disputes within SJB with the party chairman getting into a confrontation with the party leadership. Will it lead to a division within
the party?

There are disputes within the party. However we have to resolve these issues as soon as possible as we have to face other parties during elections that are to be held this year.
Q: There are allegations that the SJB leadership is taking off the time allocated for SJB MPs to speak in Parliament. What are your comments?
The leader does take time when speaking in Parliament. However he does that to highlight issues which are of national interest. He often comes up with some critical questions.
Q: You were lobbying against what you called fraudulent procurement of medicines. The former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella is behind bars as of now. Are you happy with the progress regarding this past issue connected to medicines?
Yes we are happy with the progress as it was we who stood up against those frauds. However we cannot speak much about these investigations as there is a court
case pending.
Q: Are you happy with the performance of the new Health Minister?
The health ministry is not what it used to be now. So-called emergency procurements have been stopped. This is a positive sign.

Comments - 8

Panduka Dasanayake Saturday, 09 March 2024 08:49 AM

You cannot be anywhere but in disarray for the manner in which your leader and you all left the UNP on the sad eve of the last presidential election. Raw ambition alone never made a true leader! If there is one sensible thing you can do, that is, get back on the mothership, unconditionally. The second sensible thing you can do is to possibly create a partnership with the NPP! Yes, exclamation! This is said to highlight what the nation needs today, as opposed to individual so-called political leaders and reps and parties. The acumen of pre independence evolution and the good and evil of post independence is the massive repertoire of the UNP. However, the same does not apply to its vision of the present and the future. Fact! That reality is the heartbeat of the NPP. If one truly wishes to serve the nation, then start listening to and discussing with those whom you do not and have not upto now, and serve! They are all part of this country. If not, one can continue to play ‘politics.’

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Wasantha Bandara Saturday, 09 March 2024 10:30 PM

Well said. However, be mindful of the unconditional support to NPP. They must be transparent about the funds they receive to spend lavishly on the campaign and their lifestyle. If not, it will be another election like the last one.

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Dr Saman Monday, 11 March 2024 10:38 PM

Post Aragalaya, people are increasingly aware of political realities. That's the reason for increasing momentum behind NPP

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wickrama wijayasiri Sunday, 24 March 2024 07:09 AM

It appears to be Ranil to 'Ranil Jr'. Neither one of them could provide leadership to the UNP and SJB (UNP clone). How could people trust that either one could provide leadership to a nation?

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Rathnavali Monday, 25 March 2024 10:41 PM

Join the mothership UNP if you want to bring prosperity to Sri Lanka. Ranil never got the opportunity to put his plans into practice. He was never the President, which the present Constitution has made so powerful that the Premier is a mere puppet. Now as the President, he has his hands tied and he cannot do all that he wants to especially go after the wrongdoers, whilst working with them. Make Ranil President with the people's mandate and the country will see a new era of prosperity. Trying out AKD of NPP will be like how the people tried out Gota, blind faith without testing proven ability! Will be a worse disaster since Sri Lankans act on emotional impulse. So get back to the mothership, all of you who left UNP so disgracefully!

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romani Saroja Friday, 29 March 2024 10:14 AM

clear that SJB cannot take action against any dissidents (Fonny,tapali, walgama, Ganja) replace with equallly powerful and do a membership drive with 1 on 1 meetings.

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Dave Friday, 12 April 2024 10:51 PM

The joke here is the Rajapakshas are well supported and looked after where as every cheap patharakaraya has every sound fart to be publicized. This seriously sound paid advertizing being looked after. Damn disgrace.

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Rajan V.Pillai Sunday, 14 April 2024 10:23 AM

Signal before crossover. Crossovers should be taught a lesson by the voters.

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