United National Party (UNP) Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe says he is prepared to step down from the party leadership at any time if his position becomes an obstacle to unity between the UNP and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

The Lankadeepa newspaper reported that during Wednesday’s (17) Executive Committee meeting at Sirikotha, the UNP headquarters in Pitakotte, Ranil Wickremesinghe stated he would have no objection to stepping down as party leader if a merger with the SJB is agreed upon.

Currently, discussions on cooperation between the UNP and SJB are underway. The UNP has appointed a committee comprising Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala, and National Organizer Sagala Ratnayaka, while the SJB side is led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.

Wickremesinghe noted that he has not yet received an official progress report on these talks, but stressed to the Executive Committee that the discussions must be concluded swiftly, as there is no time to drag them on.

He emphasized that from next year, opposition parties should unite to build a strong people’s force against the government, urging that the ongoing talks be expedited.

Wickremesinghe further stated that if a consensus is reached for the UNP and SJB to merge, and if the UNP Executive Committee proposes that Sajith Premadasa or another figure should take over leadership, he would have no objection.

He added that he himself supports the idea of the UNP and SJB coming together.

The UNP leader reiterated that he is ready to step down from leadership at any moment if it facilitates such unity.

“I have been the party leader for a long time. I became the country’s President. I have reached the highest position possible. At the most difficult moment for the country, I took responsibility and worked to lift it up. Therefore, stepping aside is not a problem for me. But this must be concluded quickly,” Wickremesinghe further informed the committee.