Report on cocaine using MPs handed over to PM

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The report on the controversial statement made by the State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake on certain members of parliament was presented to the Prime Minister today(February 25). The committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to investigate this matter under the leadership of Minister Lakshman Kiriella comprised of Eran Wickramaratne, Ashu Marasinghe and Nissanka Nanayakkara. The attorney who attended the committee meetings was a lawyer of the United National Party, Mahesh Kalugampitiya. Mahesh Kalugampitiya was also a part of the Pitipana Committee appointed by Ranil Wickremesinghe to investigate the bond scam. UPFA Southern Provincial Councillor, Krishantha Pushpakumara commenting on the matter, noted that the reports of this commission would be manipulated similar to the reports of the commission appointed to investigate the bond scam. He added that this whole scenario was orchestrated by the Prime Minister himself. Meanwhile, Professor Carlo Fonseka expressed his views on State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake's statement at a discussion held at the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol. He noted that his nephew had been politically misled. He noted that his nephew is a man with a conscience and would follow it no matter the consequences. Yet the professor warned his nephew that his current quest might threaten his life. Convening a media briefing at the Sirikotha Party Head Quarters today (February 25) Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara responded to a controversial statement made by the state Minister Ranjan Ramanayake. Nalin Bandara, Deputy Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade noted that everybody has their own kind of flaws and he admitted that he himself consumes alcohol and he is not afraid to make it public. Therefore he noted that he is confident enough to declare that he does not use narcotic substances. He stressed that beating around the bush and making serious allegations was unethical as it would tarnish the image of the whole parliament. He wanted Ranjan Ramanayake to be straightforward and reveal the truth. He added that he is always prepared to go through blood and a urine test at any given time. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Rohitha Abeygunawardana from the opposition also shared thoughts on the matter. Opposition leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa shared that he and the members of his party are prepared for any test yet that they would not go through tests based on desolate accusations by anyone. He added that the original statement of Ranjan Ramanayake has changed during the course of time as he initially mentioned there were twenty-four members in the cabinet who use narcotic substances. Mahinda Rajapaksa was confident that there were no cocaine users in his party. UPFA MP, Rohitha Abeygunawardena noted that Ranjan Ramanayke is making a caricature of himself by his barren allegations.

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