September 06, Colombo (LNW): The United National Party (UNP) is marking its 80th anniversary today, with a commemorative event planned at the party headquarters in Pitakotte.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9.00 a.m. at Sirikotha and will be held under the patronage of UNP Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, according to the party.
The UNP was established on 6 September 1946 at Palm Court Mansion in Colombo, emerging as one of the country’s principal political organisations in the period leading up to independence.
D.S. Senanayake became the party’s inaugural leader, while H.W. Amarasuriya was appointed secretary. Prominent figures Sir Razik Fareed and J.R. Jayewardene served as co-treasurers during the party’s formative years.
The party adopted green as its official colour and the elephant as its emblem, a symbol that has remained closely associated with the UNP throughout its eight-decade history.
Over the years, the party has been headed by several influential figures in Sri Lankan politics, including D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kotelawala, J.R. Jayewardene and Ranasinghe Premadasa.
Following Premadasa’s death, Wickremesinghe took over the leadership of the UNP and has remained at the helm ever since.
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