Former MP Ajith Mannapperuma, who had submitted his nomination to contest in the upcoming general elections from the Gampaha District under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has announced his withdrawal from the race and resignation from the party.
During a press conference today, Mannapperuma expressed his discontent with the party leadership, particularly his removal from the position of SJB chief organizer for the Gampaha electorate, a role he had held for over two decades.
“I have served as the organizer for the Gampaha constituency for 20 years, and although I submitted my nomination for the SJB this time, I had no intention of actively campaigning for votes,” Mannapperuma explained. His disappointment stems from the SJB leader Sajith Premadasa’s decision to replace him with someone loyal to Ranil Wickremesinghe and the United National Party (UNP), just 24 hours after signing his nomination.
He stated that due to these developments, he no longer wishes to work with the SJB and requested that voters refrain from casting their votes for him in the upcoming election.