Multiple UNP sources confirmed that there was no meeting between President Maithripala Sirisena and a group of UNP MPs this morning. 

It was widely reported in some websites that a group of UNP MPs, including Sajith Premadasa and Ajith P Perera, met the President this morning to discuss the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister. 

They also said the UNP group, at the discussion, proposed to appoint Sajith Premadasa as the new Prime Minister if the incumbent Prime Minister failed to show a Parliamentary majority. 

When contacted, a senior UNP MP said the report must be an ' April fool's joke'. 

"Our position is very clear and we have decided to back the Prime Minister.  There is no way that the Prime Minister will lose the n-confidence motion. So, the issue of alternate PM does not even arise," he explained.