Founded on September 6, 1946, the United National Party is a center-right political party. It has governed independent Sri Lanka for the longest period of time. DS Senanayake became Ceylon’s first Prime Minister in 1948 since the UNP won the largest number of seats at the 1947 election. The UNP governed the country until the staggering election defeat in 1956. Later it governed the country between 1965-70 and 1977-1994. Between December 2001 and April 2004, Sri Lanka had a UNP government despite having a president from another party.