Major split in UNP, rebel MPs join government

Colombo, Jan 28: The main opposition United National Party (UNP) led by former Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe suffered a split today with at least 18 prominent parliamentarians joining the government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

''Eighteen prominent UNP MPs will be sworn in as cabinet ministers and non-cabinet ministers by the President at a function at the Temple Tress this morning,'' the President's media director, Chandrapala Liyanage told UNI