A confidential meeting between the president and Basil Rajapaksa took place early last night.

Insiders confirmed that there had been a long discussion regarding the final budget vote held yesterday (08) and the speculation that SLPP MPs were to join the United National Party.

It is reported that Basil Rajapaksa has asked President Ranil Wickremesinghe about the measures to be taken regarding the MPs who are planning to join the United National Party from the SLPP, in a background where he has done all the spade work for the budget victory.

Basil has queried Ranil about the truth about the news that the UNP seat organiser positions are being given to MPs from the SLPP. According to sources, the president has said that several people from the SLPP have inquired about the possibility of joining the United National Party.

Basil Rajapaksa has requested the President to allocate seats to such incoming MPs but not to give them membership in the United National Party so that they would remain in the SLPP.

Although the President has not given a specific answer in this regard, internal sources say that there is a possibility that the United National Party (UNP) avoids such a situation.