Highly placed sources told Asian Mirror that UPFA Western Provincial Councilor Hirunika Premachandra is likely to extend her support to Maithripala Sirisena.

The common opposition is likely to make a special announcement about her decision in the evening. The announcement will coincide with the press conference addressed by Attanayake to explain his decision to join the government.

Although Asian Mirror attempted to contact Premachandra in this regard, all our phone calls went unanswered.

However, speaking to Asian Mirror, a stalwart of the United National Party said it has just "caught a big fish".

However, addressing a SLFP meeting a few days after Maithripala She dubbed former SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena as a “clean politician” in a context where seniors of her party are lashing out at him for becoming the common candidate of the opposition.

It is learnt that Hirunika Premachandra had held lengthy discussions the group supporting Maithripala Sirisena and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

Prasanna Solangaarachchi, Chairman of the Kotikawatte- Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha and a staunch supporter of Hirunika and Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, extended his support to common candidate Maithriapala Sirisena yesterday at a special press conference.