The United National Party has begun a major structural transformation to adapt to a rapidly changing digital society, with party leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressing the need to protect Sri Lanka’s free and multi-party democratic system for the future. He made these remarks while addressing the “Smart UNP-2026” launch program held at the Sirikotha party headquarters on the 3rd, where the Starlink satellite internet service was also officially launched.
Addressing party members and invitees, Wickremesinghe opened his speech on a light note, joking about being offered a chair by security personnel as he took the stage. He then reflected on the broader historical context of Sri Lanka’s political journey, noting that the event coincided with the 78th anniversary of the founding of independent Sri Lanka under D.S. Senanayake. He paid tribute to past leaders, highlighting achievements such as the expansion of central colleges from 50 to more than 1,400, the growth of universities from a single institution to 19 state and 27 non-state universities, and the development of more than 550 hospitals nationwide, alongside achieving self-sufficiency in rice.
Wickremesinghe emphasized that Sri Lanka’s progress had been rooted in a free and multi-party political system, urging all political forces to unite in preserving it. He said this democratic framework was essential for the country’s continued development, particularly as it enters a new technological era.
Turning to recent history, the former president referred to the economic collapse of 2022, stating that he assumed leadership at a time of national crisis and worked to restore stability. He said Sri Lanka has since transitioned into what he described as a new digital society, driven by widespread access to mobile phones and computers. He referred to the younger generation born into this environment as a digital generation, stressing that politics and institutions must evolve to move forward with them.
Wickremesinghe said the United National Party is reshaping itself to meet these challenges, arguing that the political landscape has fundamentally changed. Drawing a comparison between past and present global realities, he said the country is no longer operating in the era of J.R. Jayewardene but in a new global context that demands adaptation, innovation, and engagement with emerging technologies.
Concluding his address, he said Sri Lanka is entering a world shaped by created technology and knowledge, warning that failure to embrace this transformation would leave the country behind. He described the launch of Smart UNP as an effort to align politics with this new reality and called on supporters to embrace what he termed a new vibe in Sri Lankan politics.
