Maithripala loses MP to SJB  

Out of 14 SLFPers in Parliament, nine back RW

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SJB MP Tissa Attanayake yesterday (01) said that Galle District SLPP MP Shan Vijayalal de Silva had joined the SJB.

De Silva contested the last election in Aug 2020 on the SLPP ticket.

MP de Silva met SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at the latter’s Office yesterday morning.

The Galle District MP joined the SJB amidst speculation that former SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera would switch his allegiance to the SJB. Kurunegala District MP Jayasekera has denied media reports that he was planning to join the SJB.

Political sources said that MP de Silva was one of the four SLFP MPs (elected from the SLPP) who voted against the Appropriation Bill for 2024.

Along with de Silva, SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena, Acting General Secretary of the SLFP Sarathi Dushmantha and Dayasiri Jayasekera voted against President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Budget at the Third Reading on 13 Dec.