SLPP’s Sanjeeva Edirimanne has admitted that a recent statement regarding a youth who allegedly joined the party after previously contesting from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was false.
Addressing a media briefing, Edirimanne said it had come to light that certain information provided about the youth, identified as Amila Nirmal, was inaccurate.
He stated that the SLPP welcomes all individuals and values their support, adding that the party did not intend to attack or criticise another political party or individual.
During a recent SLPP rally held in Panadura, Edirimanne invited the youth who reportedly defected from the SJB, onto the stage alongside Namal Rajapaksa and symbolically “handed him over” to Rajapaksa.
Following the incident, the SJB’s Panadura Media Unit issued a statement rejecting Edirimanne’s claims that the youth had contested parliamentary elections under the SJB and secured around 21,000 votes.
According to the SJB statement, the youth had never contested parliamentary elections under the party. It further stated that his mother had contested the 2025 local government election from the Nalluruwa area and that both he and his mother had secured around 66 votes. (Newswire)