President Maithripala Sirisena has criticized Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera for making decisions on contentious matters without informing him. 

The President made these remarks while speaking at the Cabinet meeting this morning at the Presidential Secretariat. After making a hard-hitting and emotional statement, the President had walked out of the Cabinet meeting. 

Sirisena had said some of the decisions made by senior Cabinet ministers had created troubles for the government. 

The President was referring to the gazette signed by Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera amending a 60 year old law that barred women from legally purchasing alcohol. 

The President had stated he got to know about this decision from the press. He had said he was utterly disheartened by the current state of affairs in the government. 

He had also criticized several UNP Ministers and MPs who launched scathing attacks on the government. He had specifically highlighted the statements made by Ministers Harin Fernando, Sujeewa Senasinghe, MPs S.M. Marikkar and Chaminda Wijesiri.