United National Party

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United National Party එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி
Abbreviation	UNP
Leader	Ranil Wickramasinghe
Chairman	Vajira Abeywardena
General Secretary	Palitha Range Bandara
Founder	Don Stephen Senanayake
Founded	6 September 1946 (74 years ago) (1946-09-06)
Merger of	Ceylon National Congress, Sinhala Maha Sabha
Headquarters	Sirikotha, 400 Kotte Road, Pitakotte, Sri Jayawardenapura
Youth wing	National Youth Front
Professional Wing	Young Professionals Organization of the United National Party
Ideology	Conservatism Economic liberalism
Political position	Centre-right[1] to right-wing[2]
National affiliation	United National Front
International affiliation	International Democrat Union
Regional affiliation	Asia Pacific Democrat Union
Colors	Green
Parliament of Sri Lanka	1 / 225
Sri Lankan Provincial Councils	112 / 417
Local Government	2,385 / 8,293
Election symbol
Elephant
Website
www.unp.lk
Politics of Sri Lanka Political parties Elections

The United National Party, often abbreviated as UNP (Sinhala: එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය, romanized: Eksath Jāthika Pakshaya, Tamil: ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி, romanized: Aikkiya Tēciyak Kaṭci), is a centre-right political party in Sri Lanka.^[3] The UNP has previously been the governing party or in the governing coalition from 1947 to 1956, from 1965 to 1970, from 1977 to 1994, 2001 to 2004 and 2015 to 2019. In total, the UNP has governed Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) for 38 of 69 years of its independent history. The UNP also had control of the executive presidency from the presidency's formation in 1978 to 1994.^[4]

As of September 2021, the UNP is also a member of the International Democrat Union.^[5]

History[]

Founding (1946–1952)[]

D.S. Senanayake, the founder of the party

The UNP was founded by Don Stephen Senanayake in 1946 by amalgamating three right-leaning pro-dominion parties from the majority Sinhalese community and minority Tamil and Muslim communities.^[6] Don Stephen Senanayake was at the forefront in the struggle for independence from the United Kingdom, having resigned from the Ceylon National Congress because he disagreed with its revised aim of 'the achieving of freedom' from the British Empire.^[7][6] The UNP represented the business community and the landed gentry. However, Senanayake also adopted populist policies that made the party accepted at the grassroots level.^{[citation needed]} Due to his agricultural policies, many landless people were relocated under productive colonization schemes^{[clarification needed]}, which resulted in Sri Lankan agricultural production rising. As a result, D.S. Senanayake is considered the "father of the nation".^[8]

Senanayake refused a knighthood, but he maintained good relations with Britain and was a Privy Counsellor.^[6] He launched major irrigation and hydro-power projects such as the Gal Oya project (which relocated over 250,000 people^[6]), Udawalawa tank, Senanayaka tank, and several other multipurpose projects. He also renovated historic sites in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and played a major role in the Colombo plan.^[6][9] During his tenure, free education commenced and the University of Peradeniya opened.^[9]

However, his government proceeded to disenfranchise the plantation workers of Indian descent, the Indian Tamils, using the Ceylon Citizenship Act of 1948 and the Parliamentary Elections Amendment Act of 1949. These measures were intended primarily to undermine the Left electorally.^[10]

Dudley Senanayake era (1952–1953)[]

In July 1951, a long-standing UNP stalwart, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, a Buddhist nationalist leader known for his centre-left views, quit the party to found the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) as a balancing force between the UNP and Marxist parties.^{[citation needed]} A few months later in March 1952, Prime Minister Senanayake died in a riding accident, and his son Dudley succeeded him as prime minister.^{[citation needed]}

During his tenure, Dudley Senanayake launched several projects to further develop the agricultural sector and was termed "Bath Dun Piya" (the father who offered free rice to the nation).^[11] Among these, he created Bathalegoda Paddy research centre, Thalawakele Tea research centre and Lunuwila Coconut research centre to further develop the agricultural sector.^[9] He also founded Moratuwa University, and many technical colleges.^[9] During this period, Bhikku University commenced and Poya was declared a government-recognized holiday.^[9]

Kotelawala era (1953–1958)[]

In 1953, the UNP attempted to reduce the rice ration resulting in the 1953 Hartal, which caused Dudley Senanayake to resign. He was succeeded by his cousin, Colonel Sir John Kotelawala, who launched several major power generation and infrastructure projects. These include the Lakshapana hydropower project, Bambalapitiya housing project which provided houses to the homeless, modernizing of the Ratmalana Airport, construction of the Kelaniya Bridge, and the development of Buddhist religious sites.^[9]

There was growing disaffection with the UNP particularly because of its support of minority religious groups, most notably Catholics, to the consternation of the predominantly Buddhist Sinhalese. Bandaranaike was able to take advantage and lead the SLFP to victory in the 1956 elections, resulting in a humiliating defeat for the United National Party which returned only eight members to parliament. Kotelawala stepped down as party leader and went into self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom.^{[citation needed]}

Second Dudley Senanayake era (1958–1972)[]

Bandaranaike soon afterwards passed the controversial Sinhala Only Act, which led to communal clashes in 1958. Dudley Senanayake retook party leadership and the UNP again came to power briefly for three months in 1960 and again in 1965, in coalition with the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, the Tamil ethnic Federal Party under Dudley Senanayake, but it lost in a 1970 landslide to the SLFP, which had formed an electoral alliance with Marxist Parties known as the United Front. A bitter leadership battle soon developed between the populist Dudley Senanayake and the more conservative J. R. Jayewardene, a strong supporter of free-market policies and a pro-American foreign policy. For the latter, he was called "Yankee Dickey".^{[citation needed]}

During the tenure of Dudley Senanayake, English education was made compulsory.^[9]

Jayawardene era (1972–1988)[]

First Executive President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency J.R.Jayawardana

After Dudley Senanayake's death in 1973, J.R. Jayewardene became the leader of the UNP and started reorganizing the party at the grassroots level.

General disaffection with the economic policies of the United Front coalition and its brutal crackdown against a 1971 Marxist–Leninist insurrection by the JVP, as well as promises to provide each person with a free ration of eight kilograms of cereal, brought the UNP to power in 1977. The party won an unprecedented five-sixths of the seats in parliament.

J.R. Jayewardene was elected president by Parliament and, in 1978, introduced a new constitution (which incidentally first called the country a "Democratic Socialist" republic) which transformed the presidency into an executive post with sweeping powers.^{[citation needed]}

The UNP opened up the economy and revolutionized the entire outlook of the country.^{[12][weasel words]} Free-trade zones such as in Katunayaka and Biyagama were established in order to generate employment, which resulted in leading international companies investing in Sri Lanka. The government undertook massive development work to promote hydroelectricity and agriculture. Reservoirs were built at Victoria, Randenigala, Rantambe and Kotmale while Maduru Oya and Lunugamwehera reservoirs were reconstructed. He awarded "Swarnabhoomi" land deeds to people and established administration centres such as Isurupaya and Sethsiripaya to create the new administrative capital in Sri Jayawardanapua Kotte where a new Parliament Building was constructed.^[9]

School children were provided with free school books, launched the Mahapola scholarship programme and the new subject of Information Technology was introduced to schools. He created the University of Ruhuna and the Eastern University as well as the medical faculty of Jaffna university.^[9] Bandaranayake International Airport was modernized and Air Lanka was created. He also modernized the Sri Lankan military and created the Police Special Task Force.^[9]

By 1987, the Sri Lankan military had cornered the LTTE in Jaffna, on the tip of the island and were confident of bringing an end to the conflict. However, due to internal pressure, specific concerns about the 50 million Tamils living in India, the Indian government called for a halt to the offensive. After the request was snubbed by Sri Lanka, the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ordered a flotilla of ships be sent to relieve the LTTE. After the convoy was blocked by the Sri Lanka Navy, India instead chose to airdrop supplies to the besieged city in a mission code named Operation Poomalai.^[13]

Premadasa era (1988–1993)[]

Jayewardene retired in 1988 and was succeeded by Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa, a populist leader from the lower class known for his anti-Indian sentiment. During his time he launched the 'Million Houses Programme' to provide houses for the homeless and started the 'Village re-awakening movement' (Gam Udawa) to develop ignored rural areas across the country. President Premadasa's people-oriented programs include the Janasaviya, the Garment Factories Programme, decentralization of the administration to Divisional Secretariats. He also created the National Housing Development Authority, Urban Development Authority, Central Environmental Authority, Janasaviya Trust Fund, Housing Development Finance Corporation and the Institute for Construction Training and Development.^[14]

Despite these developments, most of his political enemies "disappeared" during his reign, most notably the journalist Richard De Zoysa. In 1993 Premadasa was assassinated by separatist LTTE suicide cadres at a May Day rally.^[15]

Wickremesinghe era[]

Ranil Wickremesinghe is the longest-serving party leader, in office since 1994

Opposition (1994–2001)[]

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In the 1994 election, the Peoples Alliance gained control of parliament after 17 years of unbroken UNP rule. While in opposition many of UNP stalwarts were killed by an LTTE suicide terrorist attack during an election rally which saw the assassination of Gamini Dissanayake, the UNP's presidential candidate. This paved the way for an easy victory for Chandrika Kumaratunga of the SLFP. Party leadership passed to Jayewardene's nephew, Ranil Wickremesinghe, a relatively young politician with pro-western views and a penchant for neoliberal economic policies.^{[citation needed]}

In government (2001–2004)[]

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By 2001 the country was facing the worst economic downturn since independence, with rising inflation and an acute power crisis. GDP was shrinking by 2.5%. The SLFP government fell on a no-confidence motion by the opposition, which prompted President Kumaratunga to call for early elections. Wickremesinghe managed to secure the support of former government big wigs most notably former Kumaratunga confidants, Prof. G.L. Peiris, and S.B. Dissanayake who would later become important members of the party. The UNP easily came to power in the 2001 election in a platform of peace with LTTE and economic resurgence and won all but one district in the country. Wickremesinghe became the Prime Minister for the second time following the election and began a "co-habitation" government with President Kumaratunga.

Within two months into his premiership, Wickremesinghe signed a pivotal ceasefire agreement with the LTTE. The agreement was followed by intense peace negotiations towards a solution to the ethnic conflict. During Eelam War III, which followed as the negotiations were not yet complete, the LTTE proceeded to regain territories that it had lost before.

The UNP government maintained strict fiscal discipline and market-friendly policies, which led to a resurgence in the economy, large-scale investments, and rapid economic growth. The government created key economic institutions such as the , the , and the . Economic growth continued to accelerate, reaching almost 6% at the end of 2003, while inflation was at less than 2%, an all-time low. Many local and foreign experts believed that Sri Lanka at its current pace would reach double-digit economic growth within a few years.

Unfortunately for Wickremesinghe and the UNP government, constant cease-fire breaches by the LTTE, including the constant stream of assassinations of military spies, paved the way for nationalistic and other extremist factions such as the JVP and its other cover organizations such as the Deesha Hithaishi Jathika Viyaparaya () to organize protests. They tried to convince the public that Wickremesinghe was giving too much away to the LTTE. Hardline Sinhalese Buddhist organizations such as the (Sinhalese Heritage) criticized the government on the same lines, and also for allegedly pandering to western evangelical Christian organizations and thereby encouraging proselytizing and endangering Buddhism. The Sinhala Urumaya would later rename themselves as Jathika Hela Urumaya (National Sinhalese Heritage) and put forward Buddhist monks to contest elections.

In late 2003 the President took over the National Lotteries Board. The UNP blocked this move by surrounding the government press so that the gazette could not be printed. As a retaliatory move the President then took over the ministries of Mass Communications, Defence, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was visiting George W. Bush in Washington DC. Kumaratunga and her confidants launched a massive media attack on their nominal partners, branding Wickremesinghe as a traitor and accusing the UNP government of "selling" national heritage sites to foreigners.^{[citation needed]}

Opposition (2004–2015)[]

Early in 2004, the SLFP and JVP formed the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), signalling the beginning of the end for the UNP government. In February 2004, within 24 hours of a well rehearsed speech for national unity, Kumaratunga dissolved parliament.^[16]

In the subsequent election on 2 April 2004, the UNP was defeated by the UPFA. Wickremesinghe remained as leader of the UNP.^[17]

In the presidential election of 17 November, its candidate, Ranil Wickremesinghe, came second with 48.43% of the vote. So it resulted in a defeat and a win for the UPFA candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa. It is widely believed that if not for the boycott of the polls in the North and parts of the East, allegedly due to LTTE intimidation, Wickramsinghe would have won. It has been apparent however that Ranil Wickremesinghe, although winning the support of the minority communities (Tamils and Muslims); he was unable to gain the trust of the bulk of the majority Sinhalese community.^[17]

In early 2007, 18 senior members of the UNP joined President Mahinda Rajapakse's ruling coalition. All of them were given ministerial positions. This resulted in a state of political unrest, as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the President and the UNP leader in late 2006 was read as no longer valid. This incident, generally recorded in the press as 'crossovers', also resulted in a state where a number of senior government ministers expressed concern over the 'jumbo cabinet' of ministers. On Friday 9 February 2007, the president sacked three ministers for their remarks against the new political configuration.

UNP and twelve other opposition parties in the Parliament of Sri Lanka, signed an Opposition Alliance 3 November 2009 in the Sri Lankan Parliament Building.

After winning the 30-year long war against LTTE in 2009, President Rajapakse called for an early presidential election in 2010. UNP and JVP backed General Sarath Fonseka as presidential candidate. This was the first time UNP backed a non-UNP member as a presidential candidate. However, President Rajapakse won the election with 57.88% of the popular vote. Then, in April, President Rajapakse called for a general election and UPFA won a majority of 144 seat while UNF received 60 seats.^[18]

In government (2015–2019)[]

President Rajapaksa, seeking his third term called for an early election in 2015. UNP and several other parties backed SLFP's general secretary and health minister of Rajapaksa cabinet, Maithripala Sirisena as common candidate. Sirisena emerged victorious with 51.28% of the popular vote, which saw a record turnout of 81.52%. On the next day, President Maithripala Sirisena was sworn in as 6th executive president while Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time in his political career.^[19] Over 70% of the ministerial posts in the cabinet went to the UNP. Minister Lakshman Kiriella was appointed the leader of the house. After 14 days the new government presented a budget in parliament to give several benefits including a Rs 10,000 pay hike and reduce prices on 13 goods. The National Medicine Regulatory Authority Bill, which was tabled in Parliament was passed with amendments in parliament with a majority of 67 votes. A total of 68 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted in favour of the bill while only independent MP Ajith Kumara voted against. The Bill will provide for the establishment of a regulatory authority to be known as the National Medicines Regulatory Authority. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution was approved by the Cabinet at an emergency Cabinet meeting on 16 March 2015.^{[citation needed]}

The party won the highest numbers of seats (106) in the 2015 General elections and leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as the 16th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 21 August 2015. United National Party also signed a MOU with Sri Lanka Freedom Party for a National Unity Government on the same day that gave Wickremesinghe to appoint his cabinet from both parties.^[20][21]

On 20 August 2015, the United National Party and Sri Lanka Freedom Party signed a Memorandum of understanding forming a National Government for at least 2 years, in order to address issues in Sri Lanka which were not resolved after end of 30-year ethnic conflict.^[20][22][23]

As a result, on 3 September 2015, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe presented a motion to exceed the limitation imposed on cabinet and non-cabinet ministers to the Parliament. According to the 19th Amendment the cabinet cannot exceed the limit of 30 ministers, thereby in an event of forming the National Government, the 19th Amendment permits the government to seek parliamentary approval to bypass such restrictions.^[24][25] This motion was approved by the parliament with 143 in favor, 16 against and 63 absent.^[26]

As the popularity of the government started to decline, United National Party suffered a defeat in the 2018 local authority elections.^[27] They were only able to secure 34 councils out of 340 total councils while Mahinda Rajapaksa's proxy Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna won 231 councils. Securing only 29.42% against the 40.47% of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the 12.10% of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.^[28][29]

Opposition and Split (2019–present)[]

UNP stepped down from government following the 2019 presidential election in which it nominated Sajith Premadasa as its candidate after much delay due to poor decision making by leadership and internal conflicts. Premadasa was defeated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who gained 52.25% of the votes against 41.99% gained by Premadasa. Premadasa was later nominated by the party to serve as opposition leader in parliament until fresh elections were called in April 2020.^[30]

2020 Split and decline[]

The party had a major split in early 2020 when its working committee split over a new alliance that was previously approved by the same committee giving the leadership of the alliance to its deputy leader and the most popular leader Sajith Premadasa. Over ¾ of the parliamentary group refused to sign nominations from the party and sign nominations under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.^[31][32] 99 of the party high ranks were suspended from the membership.^[33] Party roots join the new alliance, with all minority parties who supported the parties joining the new alliance.^{[citation needed]}

Following failed negotiations, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the United National Party decided to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections separately. Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 parliamentary elections resulted in a landslide victory of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna led by Mahinda Rajapaksa gaining 59.09% of the votes and securing 145 seats in parliament and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya gaining 23.90% votes and 54 seats. The United National Party suffered its worst defeat in its history, receiving a total of 249,435 votes, which was 2.15% of votes cast. For the first time in its history it failed to win a single seat in parliament, having only gained one national list seat.^[34]

Following the 2020 parliamentary election drubbing, leader of the party for over a quarter century, Ranil Wickremesinghe indicated his willingness to step down from the position.^[35]

e-Membership[]

On 23 June 2016 for the first time in Sri Lanka's political history, the party launched its e-membership program. The party plans to increase membership by 20% with the support from Google Play and Apple store online apps.^[36]

Electoral history[]

Presidential[]

Parliamentary[]

Election year	Seats won	+/–	Head of Government	Result
1947	42 / 95	0	D. S. Senanayake	Government
1952	54 / 95	13	Dudley Senanayake	Government
1956	8 / 95	46	S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike	Opposition
1960 (March)	50 / 151	42	Dudley Senanayake	Government
1960 (July)	30 / 151	20	Sirimavo Bandaranaike	Opposition
1965	66 / 151	36	Dudley Senanayake	Government
1970	17 / 151	49	Sirimavo Bandaranaike	Opposition
1977	140 / 168	123	Junius Richard Jayewardene	Government
1989	125 / 225	15	Ranasinghe Premadasa	Government
1994	94 / 225	31	Dingiri Banda Wijetunga	Opposition
2000	89 / 225	5	Chandrika Kumaratunga	Opposition
2001	109 / 225	20		Government
2004	82 / 225	27		Opposition
2010	60 / 225	22	Mahinda Rajapaksa	Opposition
2015	106 / 225	46	Maithripala Sirisena	Government
2020	1 / 225	105	Gotabaya Rajapaksa	Opposition

Leaders[]

Party had seven leaders from 1947 up to now. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been the current leader of the Party since 1994.

Name	Portrait	Province	Periods in party leadership
D.S. Senanayake		Western	1947–1952
Dudley Senanayake		Sabaragamuwa	1952–1953, 1956–1973
John Kotelawala		North Western	1953–1956
J. R. Jayewardene		Western	1973–1989
Ranasinghe Premadasa		Western	1989–1993
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga		Central	1993–1994
Ranil Wickremesinghe		Western	1994–present

See also[]

• General Secretary of the United National Party
• Politics of Sri Lanka
• Political parties in Sri Lanka

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• UNP's official website
• UNP Blog
• UNP MPs officially call for Ranil's stepping down
• Challenging Ranil's Leadership
• Rukman’s plan for UNP
• Ranil promises to consider call to step down
• Death knell for Ranil