Only Mustafa and Duminda Dissanayake are the ones who had not allied with the UNP at the last general election out of those who had left the SLFP along with Maithripala Sirisena when he came forward to contest as the common opposition candidate at the presidential election.

A cold war is already brewing for the vacant UPFA position among Susil Premajayantha, S.B. Dissanayake, Dilan Perera, Mahinda Samarasinghe and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to name a few.

Mahinda Amaraweera has turned down an offer to accept the position.

President Sirisena, as head of the UPFA, is due to take a decision in the coming week.