National People’s Party (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has gone into an absolute state of panic ahead of the upcoming Local Government elections. Dissanayake addressing a press conference held yesterday at the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) head office in Pelawatta said it is evident through the recent statements being made by the SJB leaders. “The leader, general secretary and the national organiser keep making various statements,” he said referring to the statements issued against the NPP at public meetings by the SJB leadership.

Responding to a question posed by the media on the comments made by the national organiser of the SJB Tissa Attanayake on the NPP’s voter percentage and inability to come into power Dissanayake said “If we are unable to win an election then why does one bother issuing statements about the NPP on a daily basis in this manner?”. The NPP leader said this is a sign that the SJB is gripped in fear and is extremely troubled by the NPP. “They believed their leader would easily sweep into power once Gotabaya Rajapaksa was deposed and the succeeding Ranil - Rajapaksa Government collapsed. This is what happened in the past. But it has changed now. The NPP has become stronger as a political force.

This has left them perplexed and these are nothing but cries of panic” he said. Dissanayake said the NPP has been winning consecutive Co-op Society elections which reflects the sentiments of the villages. “The NPP is focused on rebuilding the country through various revival programs and are setting out to achieve these. The NPP has no need to panic or pay attention to these comments being made against it,” he added.