TNA parliamentarian MK Sivajilingam told BBC Sandeshaya that the President has offered portfolios to UNP rebels to consolidate his power.

The UNP dissidents were also not genuine in helping the government to resolve the national question, according to the parliamentarian.

TNA says rebel MPs should have supported the opposition leader, Ranil Wickramasinghe, to implement the SLFP-UNP MoU

"We believe they joined the government for their personal gain," Sivajilingam told bbcsinhala.com.

If the rebels genuinely wanted to strengthen the peace process, he said, they should have supported UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe to implement the MoU signed with the SLFP.

We believe they joined the government for their personal gain TNA MP Sivajilingam

Eighteen UNP rebels and six Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) parliamentarians joined the government on Sunday cementing President Rajapaksa's parliamentary majority.

The rebel ministers however inisist that their aim is to strengthen Rajapaksa administration in order to find a lasting peace for the island nation.

'Independant decisions'

Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senarathne expressed hope that their support will help Rajapaksa administration stop relying upon on Sinhala nationalists.

	Senaratne says dissidents joined with government's "peace loving forces"

Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) supported Rajapaksa presidency in November 2005 presidential elections.

Speaking exclusively with BBC Sandeshaya after the swearing in, Senarathne said the government from now on "can indepedently take decisions".

"The government has no other option other than the war before we joined. But now the peace loving forces have joined together," he said.