Roshan will not be the common opposition candidate: SJB

By Yohan Perera  
Former Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe has been invited to join the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) but he will not be the common opposition candidate, an SJB MP yesterday said scoffing speculations in political circles.  
“ Roshan Ranasinghe has been invited to join the SJB but we will not change the original decision to field Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa as the common opposition candidate,” SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna said in response to a question raised by journalists.

“SJB does not have a policy of getting outsiders to contest for the presidency,” he said.  
Asked as to why Mr. Premadasa did not contest for the presidency in Parliament last year, the MP said the former heeded to a request made by the group led by MP Dullas Alahapperuma. “Our leader heeded to a request made by other opposition groups to back MP Alahapperuma and also he did not have enough votes in the House to become the President at that time,” he said in this regard.  Also MP Rajakaruna proposed that both Presidential and general elections should be held on the same day after making necessary amendments to the constitution.