Sri Lanka's main opposition leader calls on senior and youth leaders to join forces to defeat the government

Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe addressing the United National Party (UNP) convention held at the party headquarters, Sirikotha, called on party supporters to rally around to defeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa before he completes his second term.

He urged the senior members and youth leaders of the party to join forces to defeat the current regime.

The UNP convention concluded without any major incidents. However, there was a minor distraction earlier in the day, when some UNP supporters who had not received invitations scaled over the walls and gates of the party headquarters and entered the area, but they were not able to get into the main hall.

UNP MP for Hambantota District, Sajith Premadasa, who is hopeful of taking over the party leadership, was cheered by his supporters on arrival.

Meanwhile, UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya also addressing the gathering said the party hoped to bring millions of its supporters to Colombo for a massive protest, a Janabala Meheyuma procession, on January 26 to mark the first anniversary of the Presidential elections.