Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said he would take necessary steps to ensure that his colleagues in the government do not make announcements to the media about important cabinet decisions before the official briefing.

"We have been appointed to perform this task by the Cabinet. We are entrusted with the task of informing Cabinet decisions to the media," he said.

Gunawardena was responding to a question about one of his colleagues making an announcement last evening about the government's decision to revoke permits to sand and soil transportation.

The Cabinet spokesman said he would take up the matter at the next Cabinet meeting and ensure that such "unofficial announcements" will not be made in the future.