Courtesy Hiru News

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated that he is prepared to step down from the party leadership if his position acts as an obstacle to the unification of the United National Party and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

He made these remarks while attending the Working Committee meeting held yesterday at the party headquarters.

The Working Committee met to engage in lengthy discussions regarding several key matters concerning the UNP’s future political trajectory.

Significant focus was placed on the formation of an alliance between the UNP and the SJB.

Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasised that an agreement regarding the alliance must be reached quickly and he explicitly offered to vacate the leadership if it facilitates the merger.

It was revealed during the meeting that a formal response regarding the proposed alliance has not yet been received from SJB Leader and Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa.

Representatives from both parties have held several rounds of discussions previously regarding this potential alliance, but a final consensus remains pending.