Samagi Jana Balawegaya

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (Sinhala: සමගි ජනබලවේගය, Tamil: ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தி, "Peace — People's Power") is a political alliance[2] that is led by Opposition leader of Sri Lanka Sajith Premadasa.[3][4][5] The alliance was formed with the approval from the working committee of the United National Party[6] to contest the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election. On 11 February 2020 the election commission of Sri Lanka announced the they have accepted the party as a recognised political party in Sri Lanka. Ranjith Mandumabandara was named as the General Secretary of the party.[7] Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) join the new alliance on 12 February 2020.[8] Allince won 54 seats and became the main opposition in just 6 months after its formation.[9]

Samagi Jana Balawegaya

සමගි ජනබලවේගය
ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தி
AbbreviationSJB
LeaderSajith Premadasa
ChairmanSarath Fonseka
SecretaryRanjith Maddumabandara
FounderSajith Premadasa
Founded10 February 2020 (2020-02-10)
Split fromUnited National Party
Headquarters815, E W Perera Mw, Athulkotte[1]
Youth wingSamagi Tharuna Balawegaya
Women's wingSamagi 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
IdeologyConservatism
Liberal conservatism
Economic liberalism
Factions:
Indian Tamil interests
Muslim minority politics
Sinhalese Nationalism
National affiliationUnited National Front
Colors  Green
  Yellow
Sloganදිනමු Dinamu ("Let's win")
Parliament of Sri Lanka
54 / 225
Election symbol
Telephone
Website
www.sjb.lk

Timeline
  • 30 January 2020 - United National Party working committee approves Sajith Premadasa as leader of the new alliance and its Prime Ministerial candidate.[10]
  • 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.[11]
  • 19 February 2020 - United National Party working committee approves the swan as the symbol of the alliance.[12]
  • 2 March 2020 - Party was officially launched at Nelum Pokuna Colombo.[13]
  • 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.[14]
  • 20 August 2020 - SJB leader Sajith Premadasa appointed as the Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

Wings
  • Youth Wing - Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya [19]
  • Women's Wing - Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya [20]

Member parties

Symbol

Party announces that a Landline Telephone would be its electoral symbol.

Leadership
NamePortraitProvinceLeadership periodHighest prior elected position held
Sajith Premadasa
Western2020 January – PresentLeader of the Opposition

Secretary
NamePortraitProvinceLeadership PeriodHighest prior elected position held
Ranjith Madduma Bandara
Uva2020 –Cabinet Minister

Electoral History
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