Reports indicate that discussions have begun within the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) regarding a change in party leadership. Sources suggest significant dissatisfaction with certain actions of the current leader, Sajith Premadasa.
The immediate trigger for this crisis appears to be the widespread opposition to the party’s strategy in securing power in the Colombo Municipal Council. Additionally, a faction within the party believes that a coalition approach in the last presidential election would have prevented their defeat.
Consequently, this group has expressed their unwillingness to continue under the current leadership and is actively discussing the appointment of a new leader.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, a group of electoral organizers and ten senior SJB Members of Parliament recently met personally with party leader Sajith Premadasa, strongly urging him to replace officials and leaders who have been with the party since its inception, before considering changes to electoral organizers. They advocated for the appointment of individuals who are appealing to the public in these positions.
These representatives emphasized that it is unfair to solely blame electoral organizers for the party’s continuous defeats in two presidential elections, three general elections, and a local government election. They warned that further electoral losses are inevitable if the party’s official board is not swiftly reformed. This strong statement to the party leadership came as the SJB was reportedly preparing to remove some electoral organizers, holding them responsible for the party’s defeats.
They further highlighted that winning the last presidential election would have allowed the party to secure a significantly larger number of seats in the general election. They also pointed out that a broader alliance with the United National Party and other political parties in that presidential election would have led to a major victory.
Furthermore, they stated that if Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa had accepted the country’s leadership as Leader of the Opposition in the initial stages, he could have built a reputation through the work done. They cited Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s success in garnering 2 million votes in the last presidential election, attributed to the reputation he established after taking over the country. The electoral organizers and party seniors stated that when the Leader of the Opposition was invited to take over the country, some of the party’s economic “experts” discouraged him from accepting the offer at that time. They strongly advocated for the immediate replacement of leaders and officials who have been with the party since its inception, and for the appointment of young representatives with creative ideas to those positions.
In a related matter, reports suggest various irregularities occurred in the disbursement of financial aid by the Central Cultural Fund during Mr. Sajith Premadasa’s tenure as a minister.
At the 223rd meeting of the Central Cultural Fund’s Governing Board on May 17, 2025, a decision was made to appoint a committee to investigate the alleged irregularities. Accordingly, the Prime Minister has submitted a proposal to the Cabinet and obtained approval for the appointment of a three-member committee, chaired by retired High Court Judge G.M.W. Pradeep Jayathilake, for this purpose.
