orn ▁in ▁on ▁April ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 2 0 0 4 . ▁ ▁Since ▁then ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁defe ctions ▁and ▁counter - de fe ctions ▁from ▁the ▁opposition ▁have ▁increased ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁government ▁MP s ▁to ▁ 1 2 9 , ▁most ▁of ▁whom ▁have ▁been ▁reward ed ▁with ▁minister ial ▁posts : ▁▁ 9 ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 4 : ▁Three ▁Sri ▁L anka ▁Muslim ▁Congress ▁( SL MC ) ▁MP s ▁join ▁UP FA . ▁ 3 ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 4 : ▁C ey lon ▁Work ers ' ▁Congress ▁( e ight ▁MP s ) ▁joins ▁UP FA , ▁giving ▁it ▁a ▁majority ▁in ▁parliament . ▁ 1 6 ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 5 : ▁Jan ath a ▁V im uk th i ▁Per am una ▁( J VP ) ▁( 3 9 ▁MP s ) ▁qu its ▁UP FA . ▁ 2 5 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 6 : ▁Four ▁United ▁National ▁Party ▁MP s ▁join ▁UP FA . ▁ 2 8 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 7 : ▁ 1 8 ▁UN P ▁MP s ▁and ▁ 6 ▁SL MC ▁MP s ▁join ▁UP FA . ▁ 3 0 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 7 : ▁J ath ika ▁H ela ▁U rum aya ▁( e ight ▁MP s ) ▁joins ▁UP FA . ▁▁ 1 2 ▁December ▁ 2 0 0 7 : ▁Four ▁SL MC ▁MP s ▁quit ▁the ▁UP FA . ▁ 2 8 ▁December ▁ 2