SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said he would continue to work with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and its leader Sajith Premadasa within the police framework of the party.

Ranawaka said various websites had published slanderous stories seeking to create a rift between him and the SJB.

Issuing a statement, Ranawaka said he attended the inaugural Working Committee meeting of the SJB, where he expressed his willingnes to continue to work with the SJB. Ranawaka also officially obtained membership with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya today.

The party Working Committee, he said, would asign an appropriate responsbility to him in the coming months.

"The people who voted for me in the last general election represent the political views of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. On behalf of that political ideology, I would like to inform you that we will continue to work with the leadership of the Samagi Jana Balawewa and its fraternal membership to create a free and democratic Sri Lanka," Ranawaka said in his statement.