– The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has decided to strip five of its members representing the Bulathsinhala Pradeshiya Sabha of their positions. The expelled members include SJB Group Leader Nihal Mendis, Mohamed Nishard, Kanthi Pelawatta, Ayesha Chamali, and Pushpa Samarasinghe.The decision follows severe allegations that the group accepted financial bribes to support the National People’s Power (NPP) in establishing power within the local council after the last local government elections.

The party took immediate action after a local Buddhist monk presented video evidence of the alleged bribery directly to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Following a review of the evidence, the SJB Working Committee made the decision to expel the five councilors from the party with immediate effect.Commenting on the matter, Kalutara District SJB Member of Parliament Jagath Withana said that he had repeatedly raised complaints regarding this issue to the party leadership. He added that the councilors had consistently acted in direct violation of party decisions and discipline.