Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam has questioned whether Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa is serving the Government’s interests by excluding other opposition parties from a protest organised by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
Speaking to the media, Kariyawasam said the SLPP had been prepared to join the protest, but SJB members had publicly stated that other opposition parties should not participate.
“Under those circumstances, we cannot go there while maintaining our self-respect,” he said. “We believe this should be a protest for the entire country, not just an SJB protest. Nevertheless, we hope it succeeds.”
Kariyawasam said an SJB MP had made the statement after a party discussion and that neither Premadasa nor other SJB MPs had rejected it.
“That makes us think the statement was made at Sajith Premadasa’s request,” he said. “We in the opposition have a suspicion that he may be serving the Government’s interests. We do not know whether he is doing this to escape the problems he faces.”
