SJB protest in Colombo today against Govt bid to put off polls

February 20, 2023

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has organised a demonstration against the Government’s attempts to delay Local Government elections which are scheduled to be held on March 9. The demonstration will be held opposite the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Finance. Holding a press conference last week SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara invited the public to participate in the demonstration. “We ask the people to fight for their rights. The President might next claim there are no funds for a Presidential election. Therefore we ask the people to join us on 20 February to protest against this,” he said. He assured the party will fight alongside the people.  “The Government is attempting to curtail the people’s right to franchise. The Government is now trying to bankrupt democracy in a bankrupt country,” he said adding that the Government is acting in this manner as it is aware the SJB will emerge victorious at the polls.