Al Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers and State Ministers will be strictly warned by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe not to violate collective cabinet responsibility and responsibility to the Government of Unity in 2016 which action would face serious consequences, authoritative sources told Nation.
They said the three categories of ministers are to be summoned for separate meets by the President and Prime Minister to be advised to exercise caution when making critical statements about the government in public.
The two leaders who head the SLFP and the UNP who had reportedly met at a one-on-one meet have also decided to take disciplinary action at party level against those who violate the directive.
They had discussed at length the conduct of some ministers who have openly criticized the government which had made passage for those in the Opposition to attack the government.
The President and the Prime are to stress to all ministers of the need to speak as members of one government though it comprised the two main political parties.
Under traditions followed by Cabinet, the President as Head of Cabinet in consultation with the Prime Minister is empowered to remove any minister who violates collective cabinet responsibility.
Nation learns that the two Leaders are likely to take tough measures at political party level against MPs who breach party discipline. (PG)
Natio