UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena said there was an "international conspiracy" to prevent former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from coming to power.

Abeywardena, a close ally of Wickremesinghe, made this remark while addressing a UNP meeting in Karandeniya.

The UNP Chairman said many local and international forces were scared of Wickremesinghe, as under him Sri Lanka would emerge as a dominant force in global politics.

"This is why many are working against the former Prime Minister's return to power," the UNP Chairman, a former minister in the Yahapalanaya government, said. He also stated that comprehensive measures were underway to strengthen the party and rebuild it under the former Prime Minister's leadership.

However, the party is yet to nominate a member for the national list seat which they secured at the last Parliamentary election.