Back Samagi Jana Balawegaya German Samagi Jana Balawegaya French 統一人民戦線 Japanese 통일인민전선 Korean සමගි ජන බලවේගය Singhalese ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தி Tamil 統一人民力量 Chinese
United People's Power සමගි ජන බලවේගය ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தி | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | SJB |
| Leader | Sajith Premadasa |
| Chairman | Imthiaz Bakeer Markar |
| Secretary | Kabir Hashim |
| Spokesman | S. M. Marikkar[1] |
| Founder | Sajith Premadasa |
| Founded | 10 February 2020 |
| Split from | United National Party |
| Preceded by | United National Front for Good Governance |
| Headquarters | 815, E W Perera Mw, Ethulkotte, Kotte[2] |
| Youth wing | Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya |
| Women's wing | Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya |
| Ideology | Centrism[3] Big tent Populism |
| Political position | Centre |
| Colors | Green Yellow |
| Slogan | දිනමු (Dinamu) ('Let's win') |
| Parliament of Sri Lanka | 40 / 225 |
| Local Government | 6 / 30 |
| Election symbol | |
Telephone | |
| Website | |
| www | |
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[4][5] led by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa.[6][7][8] 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)[9] 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 new alliance as a recognised political coalition in Sri Lanka. Ranjith Madduma Bandara was named as the general secretary of the party.[10] 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.[11]
The alliance won 54 seats and became the main opposition just six months after its formation.[12] 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.[13][14]
- ^ "Marikkar appointed as SJB spokesperson!". Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ^ "New headquarters of 'Samagi Jana Balawegaya' opened". Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "Samagi Jana Balawegaya: A change agent?". Daily FT. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Samagi Jana Balawegaya - Official Website". Samagi Jana Balawegaya. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Premadasa-faction forms Samagi Jana Balawegaya". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Patali, Mano, Hakeem to join Sajith's new alliance". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.