The United National Party (UNP) has ceased inviting journalists to cover its media briefings and other events following an incident involving party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and former UNP Kalutara District Organiser Lakshman Wijemanne at an event held at Sirikotha.

The altercation led Wijemanne to quit the party and join the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). Since then, the UNP has opted not to invite the media to its press conferences, instead issuing pre-recorded statements to journalists afterward.

The latest of these pre-recorded statements was from UNP General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale.