Samagi Jana Balawegaya
Samagi Jana Balawegaya සමගි ජනබලවේගය ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தி | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | SJB |
| Leader | Sajith Premadasa |
| Chairman | Sarath Fonseka |
| Secretary | Ranjith Maddumabandara |
| Founder | Sajith Premadasa |
| Founded | 10 February 2020 |
| Split from | United National Party |
| Headquarters | 815, E W Perera Mw, Athulkotte[1] |
| Youth wing | Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya |
| Women's wing | Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya |
| Membership (2020) | United National Party (Sajith Faction) Jathika Hela Urumaya Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Tamil Progressive Alliance National Union of Workers (Sri Lanka) All Ceylon Makkal Congress Democratic People's Front |
| Ideology | Pluralism Factions: Indian Tamil interests Muslim minority politics Sinhalese nationalism Social democracy Conservatism Liberal conservatism Economic liberalism Progressivism |
| Political position | Big tent |
| Colors | Green Yellow |
| Slogan | දිනමු Dinamu ("Let's win") |
| Parliament of Sri Lanka | 54 / 225 |
| Election symbol | |
| Telephone | |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (Sinhala: සමගි ජනබලවේගය, Tamil: ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தி, "United People's Power") is a political alliance[2][3] that is led by Opposition leader of Sri Lanka Sajith Premadasa.[4][5][6] The alliance was formed with the approval from the working committee of the United National Party[7] (UNP) to contest the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election. On 11 February 2020 the election commission of Sri Lanka announced that they have accepted the party as a recognised political party in Sri Lanka. Ranjith Mandumabandara was named as the General Secretary of the party.[8] Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) join the new alliance on 12 February 2020.[9] Alliance won 54 seats and became the main opposition in just 6 months after its formation.[10] While the alliance traces its 'roots' back (primarily) to the liberal-conservative principles of the UNP, some members of the Sri Lankan media would argue that the SJB has over time moved to the (progressive/democratic) political centre and even espouses several social democratic (centre-left) ideals.[11][12]
Timeline[]
- 30 January 2020 - United National Party working committee approves Sajith Premadasa as leader of the new alliance and its Prime Ministerial candidate.[13]
- 11 February 2020 - Election Commission accepts the appointment of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa as the leader of Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Ranjith Madduma Bandara as General Secretary.
- 13 February 2020 - Jathika Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the Tamil Progressive Alliance announce its support to the new alliance.[14]
- 19 February 2020 - United National Party working committee approves the swan as the symbol of the alliance.[15]
- 2 March 2020 - Party was officially launched at Nelum Pokuna Colombo.[16]
- 9 March 2020 - SJB opens its headquarters at No 815, E.W. Perera Mawatha, Ethulkotte.[1]
- 10 March 2020 - SJB select Telephone as its election symbol.
- 19 March 2020 - Party handover nominations for 25 districts for 2020 General Elections, parties 1st election.
- May 2020 - Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya (Youth Wing) and Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya (Women's Wing) launched.
- 5 August 2020 - SJB won 54 seats at its 1st election to become the main opposition in Sri Lanka.[17]
- 20 August 2020 - SJB leader Sajith Premadasa appointed as the Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)[18]
United National Party[]
52 out of 77 United National Party members of parliament, led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, joined the new alliance. The working committee approved the name of Premadasa as the leader of the alliance and gave him the power to chair the nomination board for the 2020 upcoming general elections.[19] On 14 February 2020, both Premadasa and Ranil Wickramasinghe agreed to contest the elections under the swan symbol and file nominations under Samagi Jana Balawegaya to avoid a division in the United National Party.[20]
At last moment UNP leader Wickramasinghe withdrew from the alliance that was previously approved to contest under its own. Even though his decision majority of the members of the UNP sign nominations under SJB. almost over 75 members of parliament join the alliance. A minority of the United National Party filed nominations under the elephant symbol.
Other participants[]
Jathika Hela Urumaya, Tamil Progressive Alliance, and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress agreed to join the new alliance on 12 February 2020.[21]
Wings[]
Member parties[]
- Jathika Hela Urumaya
- Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
- Tamil Progressive Alliance
- National Union of Workers
- All Ceylon Makkal Congress
- Democratic People's Front
- Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya
Symbol[]
Party announces that a Landline Telephone would be its electoral symbol.
Leadership[]
| Name | Portrait | Province | Leadership period | Highest prior elected position held |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sajith Premadasa |  |
Western | 2020 January – Present | Leader of the Opposition |
Secretary[]
| Name | Portrait | Province | Leadership Period | Highest prior elected position held |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranjith Madduma Bandara |  |
Uva | 2020 – | Cabinet Minister |
Electoral history[]
54
- Samagi Jana Balawegaya
- 2020 establishments in Sri Lanka
- Political parties established in 2020
- Political parties in Sri Lanka