In a statement to the media in Colombo, dissident provincial council member Rohana Gamage, accused the leadership of conspiring with the government to crush the dissident group.

“The police never stopped the attack,” Gamage told the media.

“They let the group damage the building without any resistance, and conspiring with the government to arrest us,” he added.

'Born a UNP, will die a UNP'

“The unruly forces that attacked and destroyed our party office will be punished,” newly re-elected leader Ranil Wickramasinghe stated on Tuesday.

“There will be disciplinary action against unruly members of the party. We are investigating footage of the attack to identify the culprits,” he said.

Eight suspects including provincial council members Shiral Lakthilaka, Maithree Gunaratne and six others were remanded until the 2nd of January after been arrested as suspects for the attack.

In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, defeated leadership candidate Karu Jayasuriya said that there is an “invisible hand”, behind the incidents that followed the leadership election.

“I was born a UNP, and will die as a UNP. I will never leave the party,” said Jayasuriya.