Leader of the UPFA and the SLFP, president Maithripala Sirisena, has refused to form a coalition government with the UNF again.

UNF backbenchers too, are exerting pressure on their leadership against forming a coalition government, and say SLFP MPs as individuals, not as a group, will be accepted.

According to UNP sources, a considerable number of SLFP MPs has agreed to that condition.

President Sirisena has told UPFA MPs that they were free to join a government by the UNF and that disciplinary action would not be taken against any such MPs.