MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar is expected to be appointed as the new chairman of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the Dinamina newspaper reported.
Citing SJB sources, the newspaper said that he will also be appointed from the SJB national list for the next parliament, allowing him to fully engage with his responsibilities as the party chairman.
Seasoned politician Imthiaz Bakeer Markar is the most senior MP representing SJB, and was first elected to Parliament in 1988 from the Beruwala electorate.
He has also served as the Deputy Minister of Housing and Construction in the Ranasinghe Premadasa Government and served as the Media Minister in the UNP Government from 2002 to 2004.
However, in an ongoing case over the party chairmanship, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, the current SJB Chairman, filed a plaint before the Colombo District Court in February, seeking to prevent his removal from the position.
Fonseka, who has been vocal about his concerns with the SJB, obtained an enjoining order, preventing the SJB from removing him as party Chairman, over remarks he had made against the party. (Newswire)