News
SJB confident its members won’t join UNP
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The SJB says it is confident that none of its members will join the UNP at its 76th annual convention to be held on 10 Sep., at the Lake House vehicle park.
Gampaha District MP Harshana Rajakaruna said so in response to the UNP’s claim that some SJB MPs would switch their allegiance to President Ranil Wickremesinghe soon.
“The truth is only Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara accepted the UNP leader’s invitation. That was well over a year ago, soon after Wickremesinghe accepted the premiership from the then President Gotabaya Rajapakasa. Diana Gamage switched her allegiance to the Rajapaksas soon after the last parliamentary election in Aug. 2020,” MP Rajakaruna said.
Responding to another query, the MP said that the UNP was engaged in a futile propaganda exercise. “The reality is the UNP has been reduced to just one National List MP. At the previous Parliament we had 106 elected on the UNP ticket,” the former UNP MP said, adding that by joining the Rajapaksas, Wickremesinghe has committed an irrevocable blunder.
The SJB secured 54 seats, including seven National List slots, at the last general election. The UNP feared the electorate, MP Rajakaruna said, pointing out that the once great party was not in a position to contest Local Government polls. Regardless of bombastic declarations made by the President and former MPs with him, the party lacked a grassroots level mechanism to organize supporters.
The National People’s Power (NPP) polled 2,260 votes (46.18%) to secure 9 of the 19 seats in the Tangalla Urban Council at todays. Local Authorities Election.
THe Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJ) polled 1,397 votes to secure five seats while the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) polled 795 votes to secure 3 seats.
The United National Party (UNP) and the Sarvajana Balaya secure one seat each.
Voting commenced at 7.00am to elect members to 339 local councils in the island.
Voting is being held at 13,579 polling centers and will end at 4.00 p.m.
Vietnamese President Luong Cuong warmly welcomed President Anura Kumara Disanayake during an official ceremony held in Hanoi on Monday (05) morning
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was accorded a ceremonial welcome with full military honours upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace of Vietnam. He also took part in the inspection of the Tri-Forces Guard of Honour and the playing of the national anthems of Vietnam and Sri Lanka. The two leaders then introduced members of their respective delegations before proceeding for bilateral discussions during which both nation assessed their progress, explored avenues for future collaboration and signed Memoranda of Understanding.
Vietnam and Sri Lanka have upheld robust and enduring ties since they established diplomatic relations in 1970. and this visit aims to strengthen political trust and foster effective collaboration across multiple sectors between the two nations.
Sri Lanka and Vietnam engage in annual bilateral trade, primarily in exports, totalling around US$200 million. Both nations aspire to elevate this trade to US$1 billion in the near future.
President Dissanayake’s visit highlights Sri Lanka’s deep commitment to its longstanding friendship with Vietnam and demonstrates a mutual resolve to enhance collaboration in traditional sectors while exploring new opportunities in digital transformation, the digital economy, energy transition, artificial intelligence and connectivity.
[PMD]
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