Sri Lanka’s ruling United National Party (UNP) today signed a collective agreement with the Democratic Party (DP) led by former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka at Temple Trees in Colombo.

The agreement was signed by Fonseka as the leader of the Democratic Party and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the UNP leader. 

The two leaders exchanged agreements for the Democratic Party to join the United National Front (UNF), the coalition led by the UNP. 

Addressing media at the event, Fonseka said that his party acted alone for the past 3 years and that it wanted to deliver a message to the country.

He stated that the party was able to go a long way within a short period of time and that they decided to move forward together with the UNF.

“We will act as a partner of the United National Front from here on,” he said. 

The former Army Chief said he believes he was somewhat related to the UNP and that they shared the same stage during two important junctures – the presidential elections in 2010 and 2015.   

Fonseka was the Common Candidate and contested against Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010 while his party supported then Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the 2015 presidential poll. 

He also said that it will not be difficult for the UNF to continue forward under the leadership of Wickremesinghe. 

The Prime Minister, also speaking at the occasion, said that the two parties discussed the agreement in December and that they were hoping to finalize it in January. 

However, it was delayed due to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

The UNP leader said that they wanted all the parties who supported the ‘January 08 revolution’ to join together and move forward.

He stated that several parties joined forces to ensure Maithripala Sirisena’s victory at the election and that some of those parties are now I the opposition. 

We invited all the other parties to join the United National Front and the Democratic Party accepted that invitation, he said.