SJB divided on whether its leader Premadasa should join interim govt.

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The SJB is divided on whether its leader Sajith Premadasa should be involved in the proposed interim government, according to party sources.

A Senior SJB MP told The Island that the majority of the SJB parliamentary group wanted Premadasa to be involved in the interim government actively and help save the economy. They expected several key ministries to be allocated to the SJB, the MP said, adding that there was also resistance to the SJB being part of any administration under the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The SJB officially announced on Saturday that it would extend its support to the proposals brought forward by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to restore political and economic stability in the country. It said it would enter into a joint programme for nation building within a specific plan and a timeframe in line with the proposals put forward by the BASL. The SJB said the programme to abolish the executive presidency proposed by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to remove the incumbent President from office was considered as a fundamental requirement to resolve the current crisis.