SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe

Much-awaited discussions for a merger between the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and United National Party (UNP) to form a stronger alliance will begin today.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, who heads the team of negotiators from the SJB, told the Daily FT that a five-member committee had been appointed to hold discussions with the UNP team.

Bandara said that SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa was positive on commencing the merger between the two parties and he was confident that the UNP would also be committed to the cause to form a stronger force in the future to face forthcoming elections.

The SJB took the decision after its Working Committee approved the proposal for discussions to work together with the UNP.

SJB Gampaha district MP Harshana Rajakaruna at a media briefing held in Colombo last week announced the names of the five-member team, including Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Kabir Hashim, Tissa Attanayake, Mujibur Rahman, and himself, commencing discussions with the UNP.

“We are working to bring together the UNP and all the right-wing camps while protecting the identities of the SJB and UNP,” he said.

He further said that Premadasa was a principled and honest leader and did not have any intention to come into power through political games.

“The SJB has no problem with its leadership and we are providing leadership to strengthen the right-wing political camp,” he further said.

In her maiden address, newly-appointed UNP General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale also said that she was confident that both UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Premadasa could bring a neutral point.

“I have a great responsibility to safeguard the people who voted for that party. However, I always emphasised that both the UNP and SJB must merge,” Atukorale said.