In a dramatic turn of events, the United National Party Ministers representing the government threatened to pull out of the ruling coalition, if the government failed to hold the Local Government election in January. 

They demanded the President to hold the LG polls without delay, at the weekly Cabinet meeting held this morning. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking at the Cabinet, said postponing elections would only strengthen the Rajapaksa group. 

The Prime Minister's remarks were backed by a number of UNP Ministers present at the meeting. 

The demand came in the wake of the SLFP's attempt of postponing the election till March, next year. 

Following the pressure exerted by UNP cabinet members, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faizer Mustapha, a member of the SLFP, said the Local Government election will be held during the third week of January.