Sirisena backed by the main opposition United National Party and another key breakaway group, the JHU or the Buddhist Monk party plan to chalk out a series of constitutional and democratic reforms.

Born on 3 September 1951, Sirisena joined mainstream politics in 1989 through the Sri Lankan Freedom Party.  The son of a World War II veteran, Sirisena was in jail for almost two years after being arrested on suspicion of leading a revolt against the government in 1971.

Sirisena contested the 1989 parliamentary election as an SLFP candidate in Polonnaruwa District and was elected to Parliament. He was re-elected at the 1994 parliamentary election, this time as a People's Alliance (PA) candidate.