Political and legal experts said that after the Supreme Court recently ruled that the appointment of Diana Gamage as a Member of Parliament (MP) of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), is not legal, the seats of all other MPs of the SJB who contested the election from a party formed by her are at risk.
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Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera also raised this issue in Parliament on May 8, and critics said that due to the unseating of Diana Gamage as a Member of Parliament, there is a problem with the legitimacy of the party she set up.
The SJB headed by Sajith Premadasa used the ‘Telephone’ symbol party led by Diana Gamage for election purposes and contested the Parliamentary Elections. Fifty four Members were elected to Parliament on the SJB ticket.
With the unseating of Diana Gamage from Parliament, the position of all remaining SJB MPs depends only if the party becomes legal, and critics say that the MPs who were elected to Parliament from that party would not be eligible because she does not hold Sri Lankan citizenship.
When we inquired into the matter, Attorney-at-Law Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa said that when Gamage was unseated due to her failure to confirm that she is a citizen of this country it will have to be decided whether the party’s registration will be cancelled or not after the legal facts are presented.
Dr. Mahanamahewa said that attention should be paid to the manner in which the party was transferred and added that if someone goes to Court and challenges the remaining MP positions, a ruling will be given. He said that if the party is annulled in any way, then the positions of MPs will also be abolished.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that the party named Ape Jathika Peramuna (AJP) formed by Mangala Samaraweera was later given to Diana Gamage.
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The party was reconstituted and Sajith Premadasa was appointed as its Chairman and he was appointed as the General Secretary and the name AJP was replaced by the SJB. He said that his party does not have any legal problem.
