United National Party
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The United National Party is a centre-right political party in Sri Lanka. The UNP has served as the country's ruling party, or as part of its governing coalition, for 38 of the country's 74 years of independence, including the periods 1947–1956, 1965–1970, 1977–1994, 2001–2004 and 2015–2019. The party also controlled the executive presidency from its formation in 1978 until 1994 and back in 2022.
D. S. Senanayake, the founder of the party
First Executive President of Sri Lanka, J. R. Jayawardana
Ranil Wickremesinghe, the current and longest-serving leader of the UNP, in office since 1994
Ranil Wickremesinghe
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Ranil Wickremesinghe is a Sri Lankan politician who is the 9th and current President of Sri Lanka. He also holds several ministerial positions, including the Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence, Minister of Technology and Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment.
Wickremesinghe in 2022
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka meets with Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz in The Pentagon on 3 November 2003. The leaders are meeting to discuss defence issues of mutual interest.
Opposition Leader Wickremasinghe meeting British Foreign Secretary William Hague, 2010
Prime Minister Wickremasinghe with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, 2015