UNP Invites Opposition Leaders to Convention to Discuss Political Unity

Colombo, Sri Lanka — The United National Party (UNP) has invited leaders of opposition parties to its annual convention on Saturday, September 6, to discuss the country's current political situation. This was reported today by the Sunday Times, citing a statement from former President and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Speaking to the Sunday Times after his return home from the hospital, where he was admitted following his arrest, remand, and subsequent bail, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that as a first step toward "opposition unity," the UNP would lift the suspension order against all party members who left to join the breakaway Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.

According to UNP sources, Mr. Wickremesinghe will make his first public appearance since his temporary incarceration last weekend and deliver a special statement during the party sessions. The convention's venue has been moved from the party headquarters, Sirikotha, at Kotte, to a neutral location to make it more welcoming for opposition party members.

Over the past few days, there has been a noticeable thawing of relations between Mr. Wickremesinghe and Mr. Premadasa, following their acrimonious split in 2020 that led to the formation of the SJB. Mr. Premadasa, along with several SJB members, visited Mr. Wickremesinghe at both the Prison Hospital and the National Hospital while he was warded.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara confirmed that the party had received an invitation to the UNP convention and stated that Mr. Premadasa was likely to attend along with other party members. He noted that despite past differences, there was no obstacle to the two sides working together.

UNP sources also confirmed that former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena have been invited to the convention. In the wake of Mr. Wickremesinghe’s arrest, several opposition politicians, including former President Sirisena, held a media conference under the theme “Let’s defeat the constitutional dictatorship,” which is expected to be the focus of the opposition’s campaign in the coming months.