The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has initiated preliminary interviews to select candidates for the upcoming Local Government elections. The interviews, which began yesterday, will continue today, according to SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara.
The selection process will cover all districts in Sri Lanka, with at least two SJB Members of Parliament representing each district participating in the interview panel. A group of experienced lawyers affiliated with the party will also contribute to the evaluation process.
Madduma Bandara said that there is strong demand for SJB nominations and assured that only the most capable and winnable candidates will be fielded. Twenty-five percent of the candidates will be young individuals, reinforcing the party’s commitment to youth representation, he added.
The party has informed national organisers and SJB MPs from the relevant districts about the selection process.
In a related development, the SJB appointed new district leaders on Friday. However, controversy arose as MP Harsha de Silva was not assigned a leadership role. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who retained the Colombo District leadership himself said that his decision was unrelated to any issues with De Silva.
