The SLFP group supporting Presidet Maithripala Sirisena has offered a state minister portfolio to Weerakumara Dissanayake, a Joint Opposition MP representing the National Freedom Front. 

Reports of an internal power struggle within the party surfaced over the weekend and they said Dissanayake was exerting pressure on party leader Wimal Weerawansa to support the SLFP, led by Sirisena.

The reports also claimed that Weerawansa had flatly refused Dissanayake's proposal saying joining hands with Sirisena would be disastrous for the party . 

Weerawansa has also assured former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that his party will not leave the Joint Opposition camp.

It is against this backdrop that the SLFP group supporting Sirisena has made the offer, Asian Mirror reliably learns.

Dissanayake was under investigations by the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) recently over abuse of state properties.

However, it is not entirely clear whether Dissanayake has decided to take the offer and switch political allegiance.