Sri Lanka opposition says despite another loss its voter base increased at local government polls

Sri Lanka's main opposition United national party (UNP) said today that the party has recorded an increase in its voter base when compared with the general election last year.

UNP Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a press conference that the UNP has recorded a 5 percent increase in its vote bank.

He said that the 29 percent of votes, received by the party at the general election, has increased to 34 percent at the local government elections that concluded yesterday.

However, Attanayake added that the party has suffered a setback at yesterday's elections.

The UNP Secretary also called on all opposition parties to work as a joint opposition in the local government bodies whenever the need arose.

However, local media reports said that party members gathered at the UNP Headquarters today following yesterday's loss have demanded the party leader Ranil Wickremasinghe to step down. They have reportedly demanded the ouster of Tissa Attanayake as the General Secretary scoffing his remarks.

The opposition party under the leadership of Ranil Wickremasinghe has lost every election held since 2001.