The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will not enter into a merger with the United National Party (UNP), but will work towards forming a common opposition platform, informed political sources added.

Speaking to Asian Mirror, a senior MP representing the SJB said it was impossible to enter into an alliance with the UNP as long as former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe functions as the leader of the UNP.

"But, Wickremesinghe's presence at the helm of the UNP should not prevent us from forming a common platform against the government. The leadership of the UNP is an internal matter within their party and we have nothing to do with it," he explained.

"It was only an invitation to form a common platform against the government. Similarly, we will continue to engage all groups in the opposition. There will not be any merger between the SJB and the UNP, as there is no sign of Wickremesinghe stepping down from the party leadership in the foreseeable future," he said.

However, a number of UNP candidates who ran at the last Parliamentary election have now switched allegiance to join the SJB.