A potential shake-up looms within the United National Party (UNP), with several prominent members, including Ruwan Wijewardene and Naveen Dissanayake, reportedly discussing plans to join the party. The instability within the UNP has become increasingly apparent, following the recent defection of Gampaha Co-organizer Varuna Rajapakse and Yatinuwara Organizer Mahesh Senanayake to Sajith Premadasa’s camp.
Insiders reveal that many other UNP members are also planning to leave, signaling a growing shift in allegiance toward Premadasa. This wave of defections appears to be driven by dissatisfaction over the lack of progress in forming a potential alliance between Premadasa and Ranil Wickramasinghe.
Premadasa has made it clear that he seeks not only the position of prime ministerial candidate but also the leadership of the new alliance. He has called for Wickramasinghe to step aside from the UNP and wants the authority to appoint the alliance’s general secretary. Given these conditions, a partnership between Sajith Premadasa and Ranil Wickramasinghe now seems increasingly unlikely.
Meanwhile, discussions are reportedly underway within Wickramasinghe’s camp regarding the party’s next steps, as they engage with other political factions in an effort to navigate this growing crisis.
