No move to appoint rice mill owner as national list MP

 SJB’s Madduma Bandara refutes mill owner’s claim that he would be appointed

By Yohan Perera   

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday refuted the claim made by New Rathna Rice Mill owner Mithrapala Lankeshwara that he is to be appointed to Parliament through the National List.   

“We have not taken a decision to appoint Mithrapala to Parliament through the National List, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told Daily Mirror.   

“We will take our time to fill the remaining slots of the National List. The MPs already been elected will run the show on behalf of our party for the time being,” he said.   

Mr. Mithrapala claimed that he is to be appointed to Parliament through the SJB National List.” I will come to Parliament and confront Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe,” Mr Mithrapala told the media over the weekend.   

Mithrapala said he has rice stocks which are adequate for three months and more than 100,000 kgs are released to the market daily.   

He invited Minister Samarasinghe to come and see his mill for himself.