Serious allegations of internal sabotage have rocked the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) following a damning exposé published by the Mawrata newspaper, a publication known for its pro-Sajith Premadasa stance.
The report accuses key figures within the party of engaging in a sustained campaign to undermine the SJB leader, despite the party’s improved performance in the recent local government elections.
The Mawrata article claims that Premadasa, who led an island-wide campaign during the election period, was deliberately weakened from within his own ranks.
According to the report, the party’s internal divisions, particularly within its media operations, led to missed opportunities for a more decisive electoral outcome.
Media unit and rising MPs in the crossfire
Among the most pointed accusations are those directed at the SJB’s media unit. The article alleges that the unit facilitated the participation of MPs with dissenting views in official press briefings and fostered internal rivalries among younger parliamentarians. Rising MPs such as Prasad Sirivardhana, Charith Abeysinghe, and Waruna Deeptha Rajapaksa, credited for running a successful social media campaign during the elections, are reportedly facing resistance from within the party’s senior leadership.
The article further suggests that these younger MPs, who energized the SJB’s digital presence and appealed to a broader base of voters, are being deliberately sidelined by party veterans unwilling to cede influence to a new generation.
A plot dating back to the presidential election?
The Mawrata report outlines what it describes as a long-running conspiracy, dating back to the aftermath of the 2019 presidential election. Senior party figures — including MPs Kavinda Jayawardana, Hirunika Premachandra, and Eranda Weliange — are accused of attempting to remove Premadasa as leader in favor of Dr. Harsha de Silva. The report claims this plan continued despite Dr. de Silva’s own weak electoral showing.
Further, the newspaper alleges that following the presidential defeat, these individuals worked to block SLPP crossovers who were willing to support Premadasa. It is claimed they opposed giving these individuals organizational roles, undermining efforts to expand the party’s influence.
The group allegedly met at the residence of an SJB MP in Gampaha after the general election, with some members later aligning themselves with President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government.
Leadership undermined during campaign period
The article also revisits the controversial resignation of SJB Chairman Imthiaz Bakeer Markar during the election campaign, questioning the timing and public nature of his departure. Although Premadasa later reappointed him, the move is seen as a significant disruption during a critical campaign period.
The Mawrata report accuses senior SJB members of failing to defend Premadasa when his early departure from the May Day rally in Thalawakele, reportedly due to adverse weather conditions affecting his return helicopter flight, was weaponized on social media by rival groups. According to the article, only MP V. Radhakrishnan spoke publicly in support of Premadasa, while senior party members and the media unit remained silent.
An attempted post-election coup?
The report further suggests that some senior members anticipated an SJB electoral defeat and had plans to convene the parliamentary group immediately after the election to demand Mr. Premadasa’s resignation as party leader. The newspaper claims that evidence of this plan will be revealed in a forthcoming issue of its ‘Rajya Rahas’ political column.
Despite being aware of these efforts, Premadasa is said to have remained silent, focusing instead on the campaign and choosing to avoid internal conflict during the election season.
Silence amid public attacks
The report criticizes the silence of senior party members when former SJB MP Thalatha Atukorale, after joining the UNP, publicly denounced Premadasa. MPs Hesha Vithanage and S.M. Marikkar were the only MPs noted to have defended the party leader, highlighting what the article describes as a generational divide within the party’s loyalty base.
The Mawrata article concludes with a warning that further revelations are forthcoming, alleging that the same group of senior figures continues to plot against Premadasa’s leadership.
The paper reiterates its claim that the party’s internal sabotage has repeatedly undermined electoral momentum and party unity, raising fresh concerns about stability within Sri Lanka’s main opposition party.
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