JO has more cocaine users than the UNP - Ranjan

Colombo (News1st): On the 11th of the February State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake revealed that there are several Ministers in the cabinet who consume narcotic substances. After the statement snowballed into a national debate, the UNP on the 20th of February decided to appoint a committee headed by the Leader of the House, Minister Lakshman Kiriella to investigate the allegation. The committee convened in parliament today for the first time. State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake who arrived at the committee at around 9.30am provided a statement for over an hour. Exiting the committee meeting, Minister Kiriella noted that a report, based on Ramanayake's statement, would be handed over to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. While stating that this was a UNP internal inquiry, the minister refused to discuss whether Ramanayake had revealed any names to the committee. However, speaking to the media today Ranjan Ramanayake noted that the majority of the politicians who consume narcotics are from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the Joint Opposition. He went onto note that there are over 10 MPs in the SLFP, 2 in Wimal Weerawansa's party (NFF) and 3 or 4 in the UNP who consume narcotics.