What was meant to be an act of compassion for disaster displaced families has sparked controversy after a local MP turned relief aid into a personal publicity display.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya has strongly criticized the conduct of a Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha MP who distributed rice parcels to disaster affected families with her name, position, and mobile phone number printed on the packets. What began as a humanitarian relief effort has now triggered internal disciplinary action within the opposition party.
According to internal party sources, the SJB headquarters has formally informed the MP to immediately stop attaching personal labels to relief items distributed to vulnerable communities. The party has reportedly made it clear that disaster relief must never be used for political promotion or personal branding.
The same Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha MP, who represents the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, recently became the focus of intense public criticism on social media after images of the branded food parcels went viral. Many users accused the MP of exploiting the suffering of flood displaced families for political gain and visibility.
Senior leaders of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya have strongly condemned the act, stating that such behavior damages the party’s image and undermines the dignity of humanitarian aid. The leadership has reportedly issued a clear warning to the MP to refrain from repeating such actions in the future.
The controversy has reignited wider public debate about ethics in disaster relief, political accountability, and the misuse of humanitarian assistance.
