Samagi Jana Balawegaya

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (, ta, ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தி, "United People's Power") is a political alliance that is led by the opposition leader of Sri Lanka, Sajith Premadasa. The alliance was formed with the approval from the working committee of the United National Party (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. Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) joined the new alliance on 12 February 2020.

Alliance won 54 seats and became the main opposition just 6 months after its formation. While the alliance traces its 'roots' back (primarily) to the liberal-conservative principles of the UNP, some members of the Sri Lankan media argued that the SJB has over time moved to the (progressive/democratic) political centre and even espouses several social democratic (centre-left) ideals.

Timeline

* 30 January 2020 - United National Party working committee approves Sajith Premadasa as leader of the new alliance and its Prime Ministerial candidate.
* 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 their support for the new alliance.
* 19 February 2020 - United National Party working committee approves the swan as the symbol of the alliance.
* 2 March 2020 - Party is officially launched at Nelum Pokuna Colombo.
* 9 March 2020 - SJB opens its headquarters at No 815, E.W. Perera Mawatha, Ethulkotte.
* 10 March 2020 - SJB selects the telephone as its election symbol.
* 19 March 2020 - Party handover nominations for 25 districts for 2020 General Elections. Party's 1st election.
* May 2020 - Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya (Youth Wing) and Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya (Women's Wing) launched.
* 5 August 2020 - SJB wins 54 seats at its 1st election to become the main opposition in Sri Lanka.
* 20 August 2020 - SJB leader Sajith Premadasa appointed as the Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)

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. 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.

At the last moment, UNP leader Wickramasinghe withdrew from the alliance that was previously approved to contest on his own. Despite his decision, the majority of the members of the UNP signed nominations under the SJB. Approximately 75 members of parliament joined the alliance. A minority of the United National Party filed nominations under the elephant symbol and Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed the sole parliamentary seat won by the UNP.

Other participants

Jathika Hela Urumaya, Tamil Progressive Alliance, and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress agreed to join the new alliance on 12 February 2020.

Symbol

The party announced that a landline telephone would be its electoral symbol.

Wings

* Youth Wing - Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya
* Women's Wing - Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya

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
* Jathika Samagi Peramuna

Leadership

Party Leader

Chairman

Secretary

Presidential elections

Parliamentary elections

References

{{Sri Lankan political parties

2020 establishments in Sri Lanka
Political parties established in 2020
Political parties in Sri Lanka