Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake is lobbying hard for a Cabinet portfolio at the reshuffle, sources within the UNP said. 

Karunanayake had to step down from his position in the wake of the Treasury Bonds fiasco.

The Presidential Commission into the Treasury Bonds Commission recommended criminal action against Karunanayake and the UNP internal committee appointed on the matter recommended that he should not hold any party positions until the end of the investigations. 

Asian Mirror learns that the former Minister is pushing hard for a fresh Cabinet position at the reshuffle. 

However, sources close to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said there was no final decision on the matter.

"But, there is a request from some sections of the party," a spokesman at the Prime Minister's Office confirmed.

It is highly unlikely that President Maithripala Sirisena, a harsh critique of the UNP stalwart, will agree with moves to reappoint Karunanayake to a Cabinet portfolio. 

Sirisena is of the firm belief that stern action should be taken against the former Minister over the latter's close association with suspects of the Treasury bonds fiasco.