UNP commemorates its 71 anniversary

UNP was established on September 6, 1946

The 71st anniversary of the United National Party falls today.

In commemorating this event a multireligious programme is to be held today at the party headquarters Siri Kotha under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The 71st anniversary will be celebrated on September 10 at the Seevali grounds, Ratnapura under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The UNP was established on September 6, 1946 by its leader D.S. Senanayake, who later became the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The UNP under the leadership of D.S. Senanayake spearheaded the movement which obtained independence for the country from its status as a British colony.

At the general elections that followed in 1952, 1960 March, 1965, 1977 and 1988 the UNP came to power, and the country was led by Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kothelawala, J.R. Jayewardene, R.premadasa. D. B. Wijetunga succeeded President Premadasa.

In 1978 J.R. Jayewardene became the first Executive President of Sri Lanka.

In 2001 the United National Party won the general elections and Ranil Wickremesinghe became the Prime Minister. In 2015 again winning a majority number of seats, the United National Party coalesced with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and established a consensual government.