Tensions will run high at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow (22 ) with the UNP planning to raise of President Maithripala Sirisena taking a group of SLFP MPs on an official tour to the Philippines, informed political sources said. 

During a meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week, the UNP seniors have expressed their severe disappointment with the President's move. They have informed the Prime Minister that they will take up the issue at the next Cabinet meeting. 

SLFP MPs Dilan Perera, Nishantha Muthuhettigama, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Saradi Dushmantha, Lakshman Perera, Angajan Ramanadan and Sirayani Wijewickara were among the members of the President's delegation to the Philippines. 

The only senior government member in the delegation was Foreign Minster Thilak Marapana who signed several MOUs with the government of the Philippines. 

When contacted by Asian Mirror last week, a senior spokesman from the President's Office said it was up to the President to select the members of the delegation. 

"It was the President's decision. Usually, these opportunities are restricted to government MPs. Perhaps the President wanted to break away from that tradition," he added. 

The Spokesman also said such practices are not unprecedented in Sri Lanka. "For Instance, when John Amaratunga was an opposition MPs, he was made a member of a Presidential delegation led by Mahinda Rajapaksa, to Rome."