Former President and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that Sri Lanka is heading towards a severe economic crisis, alleging that the current administration is steering the country towards what he described as “total collapse.” His remarks came during a meeting of the UNP Working Committee held at the party headquarters on Flower Road in Colombo on Thursday, where he outlined concerns spanning the economy, governance, and the opposition’s political direction.
Addressing senior party members and organisers, Wickremesinghe said the government was facing mounting difficulties across multiple fronts, with the economic situation continuing to deteriorate. He framed the challenges as interconnected, pointing to pressure on public finances and growing public unease as central indicators of a worsening national outlook. According to him, the current trajectory reflected deep structural strain that required urgent political and organisational responses from opposition forces.
Alongside his economic warning, Wickremesinghe levelled criticism against the administration over what he described as policy directions that marginalise war heroes and Buddhist monks. He did not elaborate on specific measures but presented the issue as part of a broader pattern of governance decisions that he said were generating concern among key segments of society. The comments added a social and institutional dimension to his broader critique of the government’s approach.
Wickremesinghe also raised concerns about what he described as an erosion of fundamental and legal rights, citing the arrest and alleged ill-treatment of former State Intelligence Service Chief Suresh Sallay as an example. He referred to the incident as part of a wider climate in which, he said, questions were emerging about the protection of legal standards and due process. The reference was used to illustrate his broader argument that institutional safeguards were under strain.
The former president further highlighted the rising cost of living as one of the most pressing issues facing the public. He said it had become a central concern among citizens, reflecting ongoing economic pressure on households. While he did not provide specific economic indicators during the meeting, he characterised the cost-of-living situation as a key factor shaping public sentiment and political expectations.
Turning to the political landscape, Wickremesinghe said the opposition had not yet succeeded in building unity among anti-government forces. He pointed to fragmentation within the broader opposition as a key obstacle to mounting an effective challenge to the administration. According to him, greater coordination between opposition parties and groups was necessary to convert widespread dissatisfaction into a coherent political movement.
To address this, Wickremesinghe advocated a phased mobilisation strategy. He proposed that political work should begin at village and electorate level, gradually building momentum rather than attempting to address all national issues simultaneously. He described this approach as a structured method for strengthening organisational capacity and expanding political engagement across different regions of the country.
As part of this effort, Wickremesinghe announced a series of political campaigns and rallies intended to strengthen the opposition movement. The programme is scheduled to begin in Kandy over the weekend, with subsequent events planned in Kurunegala and Kalutara. The sequence of meetings reflects an effort to extend outreach beyond the capital and engage local-level political networks in different parts of the country.
He also disclosed that the UNP is engaged in discussions with several political parties and organisations as part of efforts to form a broader political alliance. Among those referenced were groups led by Minister Jeevan Thondaman, indicating that talks are taking place across a range of political actors. Wickremesinghe described these engagements as part of a wider attempt to consolidate opposition strength through cooperation rather than fragmentation.
In his remarks, Wickremesinghe urged party members to accelerate discussions and arrive at a collective decision on the party’s future direction. He emphasised the need for clarity and coordination within the UNP as it navigates the current political environment and seeks to position itself within a broader opposition framework. The call for expedited decision-making was presented as essential to maintaining momentum in ongoing political preparations.
The Working Committee meeting, held at the UNP headquarters on Flower Road, served as the platform for outlining both the party’s concerns about national developments and its intended response strategy. With campaign activities set to begin in the coming days and discussions continuing with potential political partners, the UNP’s organisational focus appears to be shifting towards coordinated mobilisation and alliance-building efforts, while Wickremesinghe continues to frame the broader national situation in terms of economic strain and institutional pressure.
