Four SLPP dissidents support SJB

 By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Four MPs who have declared independence from Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday decided to join Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to form a broad alliance.

MPs Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Chandima Weerakkody, Sudarshani Fernandopulle and Jayarathna Herath announced that they decided to support the SJB.

However MP Herath said they will not obtain SJB membership. “We will support the SJB by maintaining our identity. MP Mano Ganesan supports SJB by remaining as the leader of Tamil Progressive Alliance. We will also  follow the same pattern,” he said. 

I didn’t join  any alliance, I only met them to discuss   common tasks- Dr. Sudarshini

SLPP MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernadopulle has denied media reports that she has joined with the Samagi Jana Sandanaya.   

Issuing a statement, Dr. Fernandopulle stated that she only met the common opposition led by the Opposition Leader to “discuss common tasks of the opposition that should be performed for the people as an opposition in general at the time of presenting the budget proposal for the year 2023, and a consensus was reached to fulfill the common tasks of the opposition in the parliament.”   

“However, I declare with responsibility that I never joined with any alliance and those reports are misleading and devoid of truth,” she stated.