Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya claimed that seven 'Joint Opposition' MPs who back former President Mahinda Rajapaksa held secret talks with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe recently to discuss possible crossover to the government.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo yesterday the chief Minister claimed that the ranks of the Joint Opposition will be depleted in near future.

He also said that the SLFP has no 'deal' with the UNP and the party was being reorganized to win the 2020 election. The recent appointments of new organizers was also a part of that program and was done with the 2020 election in mind, he said.

Devapriya also said that the authentic SLFP members have been rewarded by this move.