The Samagi Jana Balawegaya has accused former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of attempting to sabotage the no-confidence motion against Minister Udaya Gammanpila.

Several MPs of the party said the former Prime Minister had personally spoken to several MPs of the party in order to discourage them from presenting a no-confidence motion against Gammanpila.

"The former PM had told them that the no-confidence motion should be against the government and not only on Gammanpila," a senior party MP said, adding that Wickremesinghe's viewpoint indicated a "secret deal" between the government and the UNP. Wickremesinghe is expected to take oaths as an MP at the next parliamentary session.

However, the SJB decided to proceed with the no-confidence motion against Gammanpila assuming that ruling party MPs critical of Gammanpila would also back their attempt.