While speculation is rife that President Maithripala Sirisena is planning to form a UPFA government with the support of the Joint Opposition, highly-placed sources close to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the UNP still had the 'numbers' to win the game. 

They, however, sounded worried about the meeting between State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe and President Sirisena this morning. "He did not keep the party informed about the meeting So we think he is up to some mischief.  Apart from that, no one from the UNP is supporting the President to form a new government, not even Range Bandara," a close ally of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said. 

He also added that Deputy minister Ranjan Ramanayake who met the President this morning, briefed the party on what was discussed at the meeting. 

"We also have come to the realization that not everyone in the Joint Opposition supports the UPFA government. About 15 MPs have refused to sign the letter seeking support for a UPFA government, that is going around," he said. 

"We have nothing to worry. We can confidently say that they don't have the numbers to form a majority government,' he added.

It is also learnt that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to make a special statement this evening, explaining his position on the current political deadlock.