Ex-President RW to address Nation ahead of General Election

October 15, Colombo (LNW): Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of the United National Party (UNP) and former President, has announced that he will deliver a significant public address on Thursday (17).

This forthcoming statement marks Wickremesinghe’s first public engagement since the 2024 Presidential Election.

In this much-anticipated announcement, Wickremesinghe is expected to discuss the current political landscape in Sri Lanka, shedding light on what he describes as the “political behaviour of the country.”

Furthermore, he will outline his future strategies and vision in light of recent electoral developments.

Since the declaration of the General Election, Wickremesinghe has made it clear that he will not be a candidate in the election and has no intentions of entering Parliament through the National List.

This decision has prompted speculation regarding his next steps and the direction he envisions for his party and supporters.

In a noteworthy shift, various political factions that rallied behind Wickremesinghe during the recent Presidential Election have chosen to contest the upcoming General Election under the banner of the New Democratic Front (NDF), adopting the “Gas Cylinder” as their electoral symbol.

This coalition is a strategic move aimed at consolidating support and maximising their chances in the upcoming polls.

Interestingly, Wickremesinghe himself contested the presidential election under the same “Gas Cylinder” symbol, although he ran as an independent candidate.