Karunaratne Paranavithana, who was set to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections from the Ratnapura district under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) banner, has announced his withdrawal from the race. He urged voters not to use their preference for him in the upcoming election, citing issues related to an agreement between his party, the United Republic Front, and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
In a video message posted on his social media account, Paranavithana clarified that his decision was not influenced by any district leader or party member. He emphasized that the withdrawal stemmed from problems surrounding the agreement, without assigning blame to anyone within the party.
His announcement marks a significant development ahead of the elections, potentially impacting the SJB’s strategy and voter base in the Ratnapura district.
