United National Party will be a strong political force in the Country and will play a great part moulding the future destinies of the people by creating unity among all communities in Sri Lanka through establishing goodwill and trust between different communities. Adopted by the inaugural United National Party held on Friday 6th September 1946 at Palm court.,Colombo
Ranil Wickremesinghe The Present Leader of the United National Party, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe is its seventh leader. He was elected Leader of the Party in November 1994. Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe is the first leader of the United National Party born after Independence. He commenced re-building the party, which had been defeeted at three consecutive elections, within his first week as Party Leader. When he assumed leadership, the United National Party was in the doldrums. Apart from the electoral losses, it had also lost many of its leaders. Finances and party morale were at an all time low. He re-fashioned the party policies to reflect aspirations of a new society- "A New Path for a New Generation." He has commenced the process of restructuring the party to take Sri lanka into the 21st century. Under the guidance of all its seven leaders, the primary task of the party, a task it has adhered to with a clear and unwavering commitment, has been to bring peace, harmony and prosperity to Sri lanka of all walks of life. In its 50 years, the United National Party has evolved not only into a mature and professionally managed political force, strong and I\united even in opposition, but a way of life in itself. The following pages will examine key landmarks in Sri lanka's development in this light. D.S Senanayake The Hon D S Senanayake was the party's First Leader. The United National Party contested the General Election in 1947, under his Leadership. The Party achieved victory gaining a total of 751,431 votes. This represented 39.8 percent of the total votes polled. At this election, 42 Members of Parliament were returned from the UNP. Hon D S Senanayake who founded the United National Party and ushered in not only independence but Democracy itself to Sri lanka, passed away on the 22nd of March 1952. Dudley Senanayake With the Hon D S Senanayake's death, the mantle of leadership of the United National Party fell on Dudley Senanayake. Dudley Senanayake who became both leader and Prime Minister, Dissolved Parliament in1952 and held fresh elections. At this Election, and United National Party polled 1,026,000 votes and recorded a percentage five points higher than in 1947. Fifty four United National Party candidates were elected to Parliament. This marks the First time a political party achieved a two-thirds majority in Parliament in Sri lanka. In 1953 Hon Dudley Senanayake resigned from the Premiership and the Party Leadership due to ill health. FOR MORE DETAILS PLEASE VISIT 'WWW.UNP.LK'