A leading member of Sri Lanka's main opposition on Wednesday resigned from parliament and joined the government ahead of provincial council elections scheduled for September.

Opposition United National Party (UNP) member Dayasiri Jayasekera told parliament that he would be contesting the north western provincial council elections on behalf of the government.

He criticized his party leadership and said that he was compelled to resign as the party had no future after losing consecutive elections.

Jayasekera also hit out at UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in his speech, saying Wickremesinghe did not leave room for party members to express their opinions freely.

Jayasekera said that he will not be crossing over in parliament from the opposition benches to the government but instead will resign from parliament as he was voted to parliament while contesting for the UNP.

He felt that he will not be betraying his supporters if he resigns from parliament. He said that he had done a lot for the party yet the party leadership had failed to recognize that and he felt the UNP cannot be brought back to its old glory days.

Jayasekera said that once he resigns he will be able to seek the support of the public for the post of chief minister to the North Western Province.

The UNP is the main opposition in Sri Lanka and Wickremesinghe was a one-time prime minister. The UNP failed to win consecutive elections since 2004 including presidential elections in 2010.

Elections will be held in September for three provincial councils in the country.