Ranil - who made Anura President - is plotting to make Namal king in 2029

Cannot Move Forward with Sajith-SJB Alliance

Vajira and Sagala Remain in the Same Position

Majority of the Party Sides with Sajith

A senior Colombo monk, extremely close to Ranil, and his personal confidant, says -

(By Sujith Mangala De Silva)

United National Party (UNP) leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reportedly seeking an alliance not with opposition leader Sajith Premadasa’s Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) but with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), according to a senior Colombo monk closely associated with Ranil and his family, speaking to Lanka News Week.

The same monk indicated that senior UNP figures Vajira Abeywardena and Sagala Ratnayaka remain in their positions and that Ranil Wickremesinghe’s main faction is expected to support Namal Rajapaksa, national organizer of the SLPP, in the 2029 presidential election.

Meanwhile, a personal confidant of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Lanka News Week that he has no intention of moving forward with the SJB and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. Instead, he has made it clear that his support will go to Namal Rajapaksa.

Accordingly, those opposing this decision, including party leaders Ravi Karunanayake, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, and Naveen Dissanayake, along with a majority of the party leadership and members, have expressed that the SJB and UNP should unite and remain in a common position.