Samagi Jana Balawegaya

United People's Power
සමගි ජන බලවේගය
ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தி
AbbreviationSJB
LeaderSajith Premadasa
ChairmanImthiaz Bakeer Markar
SecretaryKabir Hashim
SpokesmanS. M. Marikkar[1]
FounderSajith Premadasa
Founded10 February 2020 (4 years ago) (2020-02-10)
Split fromUnited National Party
Preceded byUnited National Front for Good Governance
Headquarters815, E W Perera Mw, Ethulkotte, Kotte[2]
Youth wingSamagi Tharuna Balawegaya
Women's wingSamagi Vanitha Balawegaya
IdeologyProgressivism
Big tent
Populism
Political positionCentre
Colors  Green
  Yellow
Sloganදිනමු (Dinamu)
('Let's win')
Parliament of Sri Lanka
72 / 225
Election symbol
Telephone
Website
www.sjb.lk

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB; Sinhala: සමගි ජන බලවේගය, romanized: Samagi Jana Balavēgaya, Tamil: ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தி, romanized: Aikkiya Makkaḷ Cakti, English: United People's Power) is a political alliance[3][4] led by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa.[5][6][7] It is the largest opposition coalition in the Parliament of Sri Lanka since 2020.

The alliance was formed with the approval of the working committee of the United National Party (UNP)[8] to contest in the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election. On 11 February 2020, the election commission of Sri Lanka announced that they had accepted the party as a recognised political party in Sri Lanka. Ranjith Madduma Bandara was named as the general secretary of the party.[9] Other minor political parties like the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) joined the new alliance on 12 February 2020.[10]

The alliance won 54 seats and became the main opposition just six months after its formation.[11] While the alliance traces its political views to the liberal-conservative principles of the UNP, some members of the Sri Lankan media have argued that the SJB has gradually moved to the progressive and democratic political centre over time, and even espouses several social democratic (centre-left) ideals.[12][13]

  1. ^ "Marikkar appointed as SJB spokesperson!". Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  2. ^ "New headquarters of 'Samagi Jana Balawegaya' opened". Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  3. ^ Thushi (10 February 2020). "Sajith's alliance to be named 'Samagi Jana Balawegaya' with the 'heart' as its symbol". english.theleader.lk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Samagi Jana Balawegaya - Official Website". Samagi Jana Balawegaya. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Sajith Premadasa forms new political party for General Election". I Lanka News. 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Premadasa-faction forms Samagi Jana Balawegaya". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Sajith's new alliance to be named 'Samagi Jana Balawegaya'". english.newstube.lk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Ranil to continue as UNP leader, Sajith named leader of alliance and PM candidate". www.adaderana.lk. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Madduma Bandara confirmed as General Secretary of new alliance". Colombo Gazette. 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Patali, Mano, Hakeem to join Sajith's new alliance". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  11. ^ "SLPP sweeps polls and secures 145 seats, SJB gets 54". 7 August 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  12. ^ Jayatilleka, Dr. Dayan (2021). "In defence of the SJB | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  13. ^ Mendis, Dr. Mahim (2021). "Emergence of SJB as vanguard for social democracy: Message to distractionists | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.