The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has finalized its remaining National List slots after prolonged discussions and internal turmoil within the coalition.
The finalized National List nominees are Mano Ganeshan, Nizam Karriyappar, Sujeewa Senasinghe, and Mohamed Issmail Muthu Mohamed.
Earlier, Eran Wickramaratne was considered for nomination, but his name was removed from the list after the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) went to court. The SLMC obtained a restraining order preventing the SJB from submitting the list to the Election Commission without including its nominee, Nizam Karriyappar.
SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem, after securing the court order, told the media that it was an agreement with the SJB to allocate one of the National List slots to the SLMC. He stated that, since this agreement was violated, the SLMC had no choice but to take legal action.
The SJB-led coalition secured five National List slots in the 2024 General Election. Earlier, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara’s name was gazetted as one of the National List MPs.