The majority of MPs who supported Ranil Wickremesinghe in the Presidential Election have now decided to back Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa’s candidacy for Prime Minister in the upcoming General Election, former Governor Navin Dissanayake told journalists on Friday (27).

Speaking after a meeting of MPs who had supported Wickremesinghe, Dissanayake said the former President presided over the gathering.

“Most of us prefer to align with the SJB. The United National Party (UNP) and SJB are quite similar. If the UNP and SJB join forces, we would collectively have more votes than the National People’s Power (NPP),” Dissanayake remarked.

He added that Wickremesinghe is willing to work with the SJB and anticipates that representatives from the SJB will soon meet with him.

“Wickremesinghe is not contesting the upcoming election, nor does he wish to enter Parliament via the national list. This signals his support for Sajith. Should we reach an agreement with the SJB, we must recognise Premadasa as the Prime Ministerial candidate,” Dissanayake said.

However, former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, who was also present at the meeting, stated that most Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs who supported Wickremesinghe have chosen to align with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Responding to Dissanayake’s comments about the UNP’s desire to initiate talks with the SJB, Ranatunga indicated that they are working to form a broad coalition with the SLFP.

In the meantime, former MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar was appointed Chairman of the SJB yesterday. Former MP Kabir Hashim was named General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Sandanaya (SJS), while former MP Harshana Rajakaruna was appointed as the head of the SJB in the Gampaha District.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the government is to establish a mechanism to supervise and advice ministries in the implementation of policies, a source said.

A tense situation was reported at the UNP party headquarters in Sirikotha when a group of UNP supporters arrived to hand over a document on reviving the party.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva said today that an NPP MP has told him that the Parliament canteen will not be closed but the government will see that no one will abuse the facility.

Two fishermen were seriously injured and hospitalised after a parcel floating on the sea exploded while they were checking it off the coast of Mannar.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Examinations Department have initiated a joint programme to mitigate potential disasters during the 2024 Advanced Level examinations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka today. Following are 11 key points from the President’s Government Policy Statement;

Speaker Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala informed Parliament that nomination of Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been accepted as the Opposition Leader of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Jaffna District Independent MP Archuuna Ramanathan refused to move away after he sat on the Opposition Leader's seat inside the chambers despite requests by Parliament staff to move.

National People's Power (NPP) Gampaha MP Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka a short while ago. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya proposed his name, and the nomination was confirmed by Vijitha Herath.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake adjourned the Sri Lankan Parliament until 9:30 a.m. on December 3. The adjournment followed the President’s delivery of the government’s policy statement during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament earlier today.