Ranjan fails to produce cocaine user list

Saturday, 23 February 2019 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister Ranjan Ramanayake

UNP committee only hears statement from Ranjan
MP says he plans to present detailed report to CID on Monday

By Ashwin Hemmathagama, Our Lobby Correspondent

State Minister of Highways and Road Development Ranjan Ramanayake, who appeared before the United National Party (UNP) appointed four-member committee, failed to produce substantial evidence of alleged cocaine users amongst lawmakers and provide the list of names he claimed to have.

Ramanayake, appearing before the committee headed by Minister of Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage and Kandy Development and Leader of the House of Parliament Lakshman Kiriella on Friday morning, had given a statement.

Other members of this committee appointed by UNP Leader, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne, UNP MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe and President’s Counsel Nissanka Nanayakkara.

During the proceedings, State Minister Ramanayake had held that he will be presenting a detailed report on Monday (25 February) to the Criminal Investigation Department of Police (CID), instigating a separate investigation. With the State Minister claiming to know some lawmakers from both sides using cocaine, the UNP parliamentary group meeting had discussed the matter in detail before appointing the committee. During the week, the State Minister’s cocaine claim was brought up by lawmakers who wanted the Speaker to conduct health checks on all 225 members, enabling the public to know who the addicts are. However, Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was on feet on Wednesday, wanted health checks limited to MPs in Ramanayake’s list.