To bolster the United National Party’s (UNP) electoral prospects, party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe convened an emergency meeting of the management committee yesterday. This comes on the heels of the presidential elections held on September 21, where Wickremesinghe, running as an independent candidate, secured 2,299,767 votes, or 17.27% of the total, but ultimately lost the election.
Following the recent results, Wickremesinghe instructed party members to prepare for the upcoming general election using the iconic “elephant” symbol, which has long been associated with the UNP. He emphasized that the symbol’s absence in the last election was a significant hurdle to achieving electoral success. “We must reestablish our brand and ensure our symbol is prominent in the minds of the electorate,” he stated.
Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency through constitutional means during a period of national crisis, is now focused on revitalizing the party’s image. He called for the inclusion of five new candidates in nomination lists for each district across the island, aiming to refresh the party’s appeal and broaden its reach.
