They have urged the PM to choose either to sit in the opposition or to form a government of the UNP, say party sources.

The UNP is worried over the SLFP ministers’ having intervened by using powers of the executive to get Central Bank governor Arjun Mahendran removed, opposed the VAT and objected to the devolution of powers.

UNP ministers had a meeting with the PM recently regarding his attempts to abolish the executive presidency, devolution of powers and amending the electoral system.

They have suggested to get the support of certain joint opposition MPs and to form a UNP government, while the others said it would be better to sit in the opposition.

One minister noted there were no corruption allegations against eight of the MPs, who are disappointed by Mahinda Rajapaksa’s having entrusted tasks of the joint opposition to his brother Basil.

Another minister said he was having links with 18 SLFP MPs who were dejected politically.

The present parliament has 106 MPs, who had all contested on the UNP ticket, and one from the SLMC representing the eastern province.

The joint opposition has nearly 50 MPs.

In the meantime, the UNP and the SLFP have decided to extend their agreement for a consensual government to five years.