SJBs Thalatha Quits Parliament; Calls For SJB & UNP To Unite

COLOMBO (News 1st); Thalatha Athukorala of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya announced her resignation from her position as Member of Parliament.

In a special statement to the parliament, SJB MP Thalatha Athukorala expressed deep concern over the recent split within the United National Party (UNP).

"The once-unified party has divided into two factions, with both the current leader and the former deputy leader now political adversaries, each vying for the presidency," she said.

Athukorala emphasized that this division comes at a critical juncture when unity is paramount.

Athukorala criticized the decision to split the party as selfish and shortsighted, arguing that it disregards the future of the country. 

"History will undoubtedly prove the folly of this decision," she stated, adding that remaining silent would make her complicit in this wrongdoing.

Representing the people of Ratnapura, Athukorala announced her intention to make a decisive move, honoring the mandate given to her by her constituents. 

She said that letting go of a parliamentary seat, should be considered a burden.

Reflecting on the upcoming 2024 presidential election, Athukorala stressed that the issue is not about individual leaders but about whether the party stands united or divided. She recalled her strong advocacy for Sajith Premadasa to become the deputy leader a decade ago and her subsequent decision to leave the party with Premadasa, driven by deep faith in his leadership.

"We have no personal issues. In order to secure a victory at the Presidential Election, we should unit, and not contest separately," she said.

However, she expressed bafflement over Premadasa's refusal to join forces with Ranil Wickramasinghe, despite repeated invitations.

She questioned whether Premadasa's eagerness to become president might be premature, citing historical examples of leaders who demonstrated the value of patience in politics.

Drawing parallels with the downfall of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Athukorala warned against the dangers of riding a wave of artificial popularity without a clear plan for sustaining it. She urged politicians to learn from Rajapaksa's mistakes, which led to the division of the nation and his own political demise.