The current understanding between the two parties will extend in September, 2017. Addressing a press conference today, SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake said his party would continue with the same agreement for another three years. 

 

"The national unity government will exist until 2020," Dissanayake said. 

 

The Minister, at the same press conference, indicated that a fresh agreement would be signed between the two parties next year. 

 

He also said both the President and the Prime Minister were on the same page about the matter. 

 

Dissanayake quipped that the coalition between the UNP and the SLFP was similar to an "arranged marriage."

 

"Although there are differences of opinion about some matters, the agreement is solid," he said. 

 

The minister's assurance came in the wake of demands made by Rajapakasa loyalists to form an SLFP-only government in 2017.