Magnate Nayana Wasalathilake tipped to fill vacant parliamentary seat

Nayana Wasalathilake, a prominent member of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), is poised to assume the parliamentary seat left vacant by the resignation of Chaminda Wijesiri, the Member of Parliament for Badulla District. 

Wasalathilake, who garnered 31,307 votes in the 2020 General Election from the Badulla District, holds the next position on the SJB's preferential vote list.

The announcement came following the commencement of the first parliamentary session of 2024 on January 9. 

During the session, Wijesiri informed the House of his decision to step down as a Member of Parliament. Subsequently, the Parliament's Communications Department confirmed Wijesiri's resignation, indicating that he had formally submitted his letter of resignation to the Secretary-General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera. 

As per the electoral hierarchy, Wasalathilake is now anticipated to fill the vacant seat, representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya in the Badulla District.