The General Secretary of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Ranjith Madduma Bandara states that party member Bandulal Bandarigoda will be appointed fill the parliamentary seat which fell vacant following the suspension of the party membership of Manusha Nanayakkara through a Supreme Court ruling.

Bandarigoda, who secured 34,897 votes and the third place from the Galle District in 2020 General Election, is next in line on SJB’s preferential vote list.

Meanwhile, he also said a qualified individual will be named by the SJB to fill the MP seat which remains vacant as Harin Fernando was also disqualified to hold the MP seat due to the suspension of his party membership, since Fernando was elected to the Parliament through SJB’s national list.

Ranjith Madduma Bandara also stated that the party’s Executive Committee will meet soon to decide on the appointment of a qualified individual to the relevant vacant MP seat and also currently vacant party’s chairmanship and the Kelaniya Constituency Organiser position, which left vacant after the resignation of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.

The Supreme Court ruled this morning (09) that the decision taken by the SJB to suspend the party membership of Manush Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando was lawful while dismissing a petition filed by the two ministers seeking an order declaring that the SJB’s decision to remove them from the party is unlawful.

As per the Supreme Court verdict and SJB’s constitution, Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara are disqualified from holding seats in Parliament 

On July 18, 2023, the Working Committee of the SJB decided to expel party members Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara from the party. In May 2022, the SJB had suspended the party membership of the two parliamentarians after they had accepted ministerial portfolios in the government while the party had vowed to take disciplinary action against them.

Meanwhile, MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka tendered his resignation as Chairman of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and as the SJB Organiser for the Kelaniya constituency today (09).

Fonseka has communicated this in a letter addressed to party leader and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.

On Monday (05), Fonseka placed deposit to contest in the 2024 Presidential Election as an independent candidate.