SJB wants an election to test public opinion

The main opposition SJB, on Sunday, renewed its calls for an election and adopted a resolution demanding that the much-delayed Local Government polls be held soon.

Addressing the SJB’s second annual convention at the Campbell Park in Colombo, Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa said that the next election would be a litmus test for the SJB and his party was ready to take up the challenge.

 Premadasa said the SJB rejected extreme forms of both capitalism and socialism and follows a centrist path instead with a ‘Sri Lanka First’ vision to develop the country.

“We want an election. We’re ready to face an election. Those of you who work within the confines of air conditioned rooms and palace intrigue, try and destroy the SJB in an election. The SJB and our parliamentary group are ready to take on that challenge,” he said.

 “We reject the extremist capitalism that was standard practice in this country. We reject extreme socialism. We follow a middle path,” he said.

 SJB General Secretary Moneragala District MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that the ruling SLPP’s vote base, which stood at 6.9 million in 2019, had now dropped to less than 10% of that number.

“We had 5.5 million. There were two other parties with 450,000 and 250,000 votes each. Neither of those two parties can come anywhere near our 5.5 million,” he said.