The relations between the UNP and the SLFP group led by President Maithripala Sirisena have further strained with a senior UNP Cabinet Minister calling the SLFPers in the government ' a bunch of political paupers.' 

Although six Cabinet ministers representing the SLFP voted for the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, they are yet to resign from their government position The UNP is of the strong belief that the ministers who did not have faith in the Prime Minister, the leader of the government, must sit in the opposition.

"They are reluctant to sit in the opposition as they will have to give up their vehicles, security and other privileges. They are a bunch of political paupers. We will make sure that they leave the government without delay," a senior UNP Cabinet Minuster said. 

Meanwhile, a group of 33 UNP MPs have signed a letter demanding the removal of six Cabinet Ministers who voted against the Prime Minister. 

They have stated that Ministers S.B. Dissanayake, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, John Seneviratne, Susil Premajayantha, Chandima Weerakkody and Dayasiri Jayasekera should be sacked from the government with immediate effect.

The letter has been officially handed over to Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. A copy of this letter has also been sent to President Maithripala Sirisena.