United National Party - Definition and Overview

The United National Party (UNP, Sinhalese: Ekshat Jathika Pakshaya, Tamil: ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி) is a political party in Sri Lanka. It has 82 of 225 seats as of the April 2004 parliamentary elections, in which it received 37.9% of the vote. It is currently the second largest party in Sri Lanka and the main opposition party. It had control of the parliament from December 2001 until April 2004, when it had 109 of 225 seats, and in alliance with smaller parties held a majority, which elected Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP) who shared power with the President. After the party lost 27 seats in the 2004 elections, the president was able to remove Wikremaseng from the premiership. Earlier UNP Prime Ministers include Dudley Senanayake and Junius R. Jayewardene. It had control of the parliament and premiership from 1947 to 1956, from 1966 to 1970, from 1977 to 1994 and from 2001 to 2004. It also had control of the presidency from 1978 to 1994.

The UNP is generally seen as the more right-wing of the two big parties, initiating a more open economy when it held power from 1977 to 1994.

Founded 6th September, 1946.

See also: Politics of Sri Lanka, List of political parties in Sri Lanka.

External link

• Party website (http://www.unpsrilanka.org/)