COLOMBO (News 1st) - Hirunika Premachandra, a member of the Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) and candidate from the Colombo district, held a media briefing today to discuss her views on her potential role in the National List.
During the media briefing, a journalist asked her why she had not yet been given the opportunity to enter Parliament via the National List, despite her significant contributions to the country, including her active role in protesting against the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
In response, Hirunika Premachandra explained that, as of now, only the name of the SJB General Secretary had been gazetted.
She expressed her belief that she is highly capable of representing the party, especially if a woman were to be given a seat in Parliament. She reiterated her strong faith in the leadership of Sajith Premadasa and highlighted her work to support the party, including organizing women from villages to help secure her leader's victory. She added that, given the party's policy of reserving one out of five National List seats for a woman, she felt she was the most deserving candidate among the women in the party.
The journalist then inquired about potential changes within the party and whether the leadership might be reconsidered.
Hirunika Premachandra confirmed that decisions within the SJB are made collectively, and the majority has decided to continue under the leadership of Sajith Premadasa. However, she acknowledged that some internal restructuring is necessary, particularly in the reassignment of certain party positions. She emphasized that two years is a sufficient amount of time for such changes to take place.
When asked if she was disappointed with the party, Premachandra firmly stated that she was not.