The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has denied speculation that Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), is about to switch allegiance to the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) government.

The denial follows comments by SLPP General Secretary and former MP Sagara Kariyawasam suggesting the CoPF chairman was poised to cross over. Kariyawasam did not name the MP directly, but the reference to the CoPF — chaired by de Silva — was widely understood as pointing to him.

Sources told The Island that de Silva had personally assured the party leadership there was “absolutely no basis” for the claim. De Silva subsequently released a video message addressing the speculation directly.

“The fact that the government seeks me is a proud moment, and I am happy. My way of politics is different. I have no issues with being called out for what is right or wrong,” de Silva said in the message reported by Newswire. He added that some people “cannot accept his style of politics, particularly the way he conducts the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance as its Chair.”

“Some people are attempting to portray this in a wrong manner. I would like to tell all those who voted for me, do not fall for rumours. It is not true. I will uphold the trust of my voters,” he added.

De Silva entered Parliament on the UNP ticket in April 2010 and served the party until 2020, when he joined the breakaway SJB faction. He has been one of the Government’s principal parliamentary critics on the USD 2.5 million Treasury cyber heist, pressing the Finance Ministry on internal controls and accountability.

Political sources cited in The Island’s report said the speculation was triggered by former SJB/UNP MP Eran Wickramaratne’s recent acceptance of the chairmanship of the Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee — a role appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The SJB subsequently moved against Wickramaratne over the appointment, citing the party’s “no politics in sport” rule.

Wickramaratne and de Silva both first entered Parliament in 2010, a coincidence the SLPP messaging appeared to draw on in framing a wider potential exodus from the SJB.

Sources: The Island, Newswire.