The United National Party (UNP) marks its 80th anniversary today(06), with a commemorative programme scheduled at the party headquarters in Pitakotte.

The event will be held at 9 a.m. under the patronage of UNP Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The UNP was founded on 6 September 1946 at Palm Court Mansion in Colombo, with D.S. Senanayake as its first leader.

The party has since been led by several prominent figures, including Dudley Senanayake, John Kotelawala, J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe.