PM, President in midnight powwow over Wijeyadasa

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena had an emergency meeting last night following a government parlimentary group meeting at Temple Trees.

Government sources said some MPs had taken up the issue of Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe vilolating collective Cabinet responsibility by publicly criticising the Hambantota Port agreement with China.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, answering queries from the MPs on Wijeyadasa’s conduct, said that though he (Wijeyadasa) had been given time till yesterday to respond to allegations against him, he had not complied.

Wijeyadasa was not present at yesterday’s meeting.

Sources said some MPs had demanded to know what action the UNP would take against Rajapakshe.