President Maithripala Sirisena asked UPFA members to stand beside him to form a government during the next election, MP Manusha Nanayakkara told Asian Mirror.

The President made this comment at the meeting of the parliamentary members of the UPFA, Nanayakkara said. Sirisena also refuted rumors that he is backing Ranil Wickremesinghe, the UPFA MP added.

Sirisena stressed that he has no secret agreement with the UNP to make Wickremesinghe Prime Minister after the next election, Nanayakkara said.

Meanwhile, Sirisena did not comment on the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister during this meeting, the UPFA MP said. However the 20th Amendment was discussed during the meeting he said.

Nanayakkara added that there was opposition to the provisions of the 20th Amendment. Therefore, the MPs agreed to consider possible amendments to the bill, he added.