Former MP Thalatha Atukorale has been appointed as the General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP), according to an announcement by UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena. The appointment was made by party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Atukorale, who previously represented the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), pledged her support to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe during last year’s presidential election.

The position of UNP General Secretary had been vacant for several months following the removal of Palitha Range Bandara.

Atukorale, the sister of the late UNP politician Gamini Atukorale, has had a long political career. She first entered Parliament in 2004 and was re-elected in 2010, 2015, and 2020, representing the Ratnapura District. In the 2020 general election, she secured 45,105 votes as a member of the SJB.

On 21 August 2024, Atukorale informed Parliament of her resignation as an MP, marking a shift in her political career.