Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs, including Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa, walked out of Parliament today before President Ranil Wickremesinghe began delivering the government’s policy statement.

However, MPs Rajitha Senaratne, Sarath Fonseka, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Kumara Welgama, Ishak Rahuman, Vadivel Suresh, Faizal Cassim, and A.H.M. Fowzie who contested under the SJB in the last election remained in their seats in Opposition during the President’s speech.

Among the group, some MPs are those who had previously extended their support to certain decisions of the government during votes held in Parliament.

MPs Patali Champika Ranwaka and Kumara Welgama have already distanced themselves from the SJB claiming that they represent individual parties and had contested only as an SJB alliance.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe today inaugurated the fifth session of the ninth Parliament of Sri Lanka.

The adjournment debate on the government’s policy statement will be held in Parliament in the next two days.