The joint opposition on Friday (July 8) urged President Maithripala Sirisena to take action against Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera whom it accuses of violating the collective responsibility of the Cabinet. Joint opposition MP Dinesh Gunawardane told a media briefing held at parliamentary complex that Mr Samaraweera had challenged the President through his recent statement that the non-inclusion of foreign judges in the judicial mechanism to probe human rights violations was an opinion expressed by the President. “President is the head of the government and therefore has the power to appoint the cabinet. He announced the stand of the government with regard to foreign judges. However, the Minister expressed a different opinion and therefore it is a violation of collective responsibility of the Cabinet,” said Dinesh.
