UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake is to extend his support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa today or tomorrow, highly placed political sources told Asian Mirror.

Attanayake visited Sirikotha this morning and met his personal staff for the last time.

Along with him, UNP Parliamentarian Chandrani Bandara too is join the ruling party, political sources also added.

Asian Mirror reliably learns that the government has assured a national list seat for Attanayake at the next parliamentary election.

Attanayake's mobile phone was switched off this morning and he was not taking calls at least from his close associates. However, he is expected to make a special announcement about the move in the evening.

A few days ago, the UNP General Secretary assured that he would not join the government and his conscience cannot be bought for money.

“The government cannot buy me over. My conscience could not be bought for money. No one in the UNP cannot be bought for money!” an emotional General Secretary said addressing a meeting at Sirikotha, last week, referring to certain media reports claiming the UNP General Secretary was negotiating with the government for a crossover.

Speaking on his efforts to unite the main opposition party, Attanayake said he realized that the party was not in a position to embark on a victorious journey as long as it remains divided. He was referring to the role he played in creating an “understanding” between UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Hambanthota District MP Sajith Premadasa, who was later appointed as the Deputy Leader of the party.