The UNP today challenged Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to state that the "constitutional coup" in 2018 paved the way for the current state of affairs in the country.

UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara sad it was former President Maithripala Sirisena who was primarily responsible for the constitutional crisis which lasted 52 days.

It is now in the grapevine that former President Sirisena and Opposition Leader Premadasa are working with a tacit understanding. It is in this context that the UNP General Secretary Range Bandara posed a challenge to the Opposition Leader.

"The former President Sirisena told us several times to help our then Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa become the Prime Minister. This change took place with such an underground operation," Range Bandara added.

The UNP General Secretary said Premadasa had no gumption to voice his ideas against the former President who is now a member of the government.