-By LeN Political Correspondent, Colombo
(Lanka-e-News -19.June.2025, 11.00 PM) In scenes more reminiscent of a street brawl than a democratic council chamber, Sri Lanka’s main opposition alliance, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), is grappling with a widening internal crisis that has now erupted into public view. The chaos, which has engulfed local government bodies in Kolonnawa and Kandeketiya, has seen SJB councillors defect, challenge their own colleagues, and, in some cases, come to physical blows.
At the heart of the turmoil lies the SJB’s inability to secure absolute control in several newly elected local councils. In places where no party gained a clear 50% majority, SJB councillors—defying their leadership’s directives—have thrown their support behind the National People's Power (NPP), enabling the leftist party to seize administrative control.
In retaliation, the SJB’s leadership has begun suspending party memberships of rebel councillors, prompting political analysts to warn that the main opposition is now facing a serious internal fracture that could damage its credibility ahead of national elections.
The epicentre of the crisis unfolded in Kolonnawa Municipal Council, one of the most politically sensitive local bodies in the Colombo District. Despite the NPP—widely referred to as the Malimawa—winning 9 out of 11 wards with 43.9% of the vote, it failed to clinch the 50% majority required for a clear mandate and missed out on the bonus seat.
The SJB, though securing only 2 wards, gained a total of 6 seats through a combination of direct wins and bonus allocations under Sri Lanka’s complex proportional representation system. Meanwhile, the UNP, SLPP, and Sarvajana Balaya (a multi-party leftist coalition) also received bonus seats despite not winning any wards.
Altogether, anti-NPP factions collectively held 10 seats—a fragile majority capable of denying the NPP control. That is, until internal divisions within the SJB turned the tables.
During the inaugural session of the newly elected council, only one SJB councillor, Susil Kumara Costa, remained in the chamber while the rest of the opposition staged a walkout. Costa, who had received the highest number of preferential votes on the SJB ticket, voted in favour of the NPP, effectively handing over control of the council to the leftist bloc.
The result: Dhammika Wijayamuni of the NPP was elected Chairman, and Saman Senewiratne was named Vice-Chairman, both by majority vote.
Furious over Costa’s defiance, the SJB leadership swiftly moved to suspend his party membership, citing gross violation of party directives and "betrayal of the people's mandate."
Further south in Badulla District, Kandeketiya Pradeshiya Sabha provided an even more dramatic illustration of the SJB’s internal disarray. While the NPP won 6 out of 10 wards, it again fell short of a simple majority. The SJB secured 4 seats (3 direct wins plus one bonus), while the SLFP (PoEP) bagged 2, and the UNP, SLPP, and Sarvajana Balaya secured 1 each through bonus allocations.
What should have been a simple vote among opposition councillors to block NPP control descended into political farce—and then outright conflict.
In a surprise move, two SJB councillors—Navaratna Mudiyanselage Wijepala and Priyantha Indrajith—nominated themselves to contest the chairmanship, despite being from the same party. This fractured the opposition vote, paving the way for Harsha Bandu Ranawira of the NPP to secure the chairmanship with a comfortable majority.
The vote, held via secret ballot, revealed not only that the SJB had failed to unify behind a single candidate, but that some members had voted against their own party line, adding to the confusion and suspicion.
What happened next stunned even seasoned observers of Sri Lankan politics.
As councillors exited the chamber, heated verbal exchanges quickly escalated into a physical altercation between the two SJB chairmanship contenders and Kamal Rajapaksa, the party’s local electoral organiser. Witnesses report that punches were thrown and police were called to break up the scuffle.
The shocking scene, captured on video and now circulating widely on social media, underscores the extent of dysfunction within the SJB’s grassroots operations. Party sources confirmed that Navaratna Mudiyanselage Wijepala has also had his membership suspended, with more disciplinary action expected.
Political analysts warn that the SJB’s credibility as the island’s main alternative to the ruling alliance has been gravely undermined by its own internal feuding.
“Voters expect coherence, discipline, and a commitment to defeating the ruling party—not fistfights and fratricide,” said Dr. Kaushalya Madugalle, a political science lecturer at the University of Peradeniya. “Instead, what they’ve seen is chaos, betrayal, and weak leadership.”
Some observers even argue that the SJB’s top-down handling of the crisis—suspending popular councillors like Costa—risks alienating grassroots support. “These members won on the SJB ticket, yes. But their voters want results, not petty vendettas,” said one former MP aligned with the party.
The main beneficiary of the SJB’s disunity appears to be the National People's Power (NPP), which continues to grow in influence despite failing to secure outright majorities in key councils. With disciplined members and tactical alliances, the NPP is taking control of local councils, town by town.
This trend, analysts note, is emblematic of Sri Lanka’s shifting political terrain, where voters disillusioned by both the ruling SLPP and the opposition SJB are increasingly gravitating toward alternatives.
“There is an undercurrent of momentum building behind the NPP,” said analyst Sagara Dassanayake. “They may not win every seat, but they are slowly occupying political space abandoned by others.”
Facing mounting public embarrassment and media scrutiny, the SJB’s leadership now confronts a stark choice: double down on centralised control or rebuild grassroots unity from the ground up.
Sources close to party leader Sajith Premadasa suggest that a major internal review has been ordered, with disciplinary inquiries into councillors who defied the party line. However, others within the party warn that punishing popular figures could backfire if not accompanied by broader structural reforms.
“This is more than a disciplinary issue,” said one senior figure. “It’s a failure of strategy, communication, and leadership.”
Meanwhile, internal rivalries—long simmering under the surface—are likely to erupt further as provincial and national elections approach.
-By LeN Political Correspondent, Colombo
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by (2025-06-19 20:18:12)
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