The United National Party has restructured its membership around two generational categories — “Millennial UNP” and “Gen Z UNP” — party chairman Wajira Abeywardena announced on Friday.
The two groupings were confirmed by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at a Working Committee meeting held at the party headquarters, Sirikotha, in Pitakotte, the Daily Mirror reported. Hiru News reported that the groups were formally announced the same day.
Millennial UNP covers the 35-to-40 age band. Gen Z UNP covers young men and women born after the year 2000. Abeywardena said it is the first time a Sri Lankan political party has promoted membership structured to represent two generations in this way.
A 20-year programme instead of a manifesto
The meeting also discussed at length the UNP’s “Green Paper”, which both outlets describe as a 20-year programme put forward in place of the conventional five-year election manifesto.
Wickremesinghe additionally set out what the Daily Mirror describes as the need for all parties to work together under a common consensus rather than operating as separate political parties, and the methodology for doing so. Neither filing reports which parties, if any, have been approached, or what such an arrangement would involve.
A gap the definitions leave open
The two published age definitions do not meet. Millennial UNP is bounded at 35 to 40; Gen Z UNP takes in those born after 2000, who are at most 26 this year. Sri Lankans aged roughly 27 to 34 fall into neither category as described, and neither outlet explains whether a third tier exists, whether the bands are indicative, or how ordinary membership continues alongside them.
The Daily Mirror’s own copy is also inconsistent on the name, rendering the older group as “Millennial UNP” in one paragraph and “the Millennium UNP generation” in the next. Hiru carries the English term “Millennial UNP” only. This desk has used “Millennial UNP”.
Not reported
Neither filing says how many members fall into either category, whether the tiers carry separate voting rights or representation on party bodies, what the Green Paper contains, or when it will be published. Wickremesinghe, who served as president until 2024 and holds no government office, remains party leader; neither outlet reports any change to that position.
Corroborated by two verified newsrooms, which agree on the two category names, both age definitions, the venue, the Green Paper’s 20-year span and Abeywardena’s “first time” claim.
