UNP appoints committee to probe Ranjan’s claims

A four-member committee headed by the Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella was appointed today by the UNP parliamentary group to probe the allegations leveled against a number of Cabinet Ministers by Highways and Road Development State Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka alleging that they were drug addicts.

Minister Kiriella who is also the Minister of Public Enterprises, Kandyan Heritage and Kandy Development said he was mandated to hand over a report after the inquiry to the UNP parliamentary group meeting at its next session.

The UNP parliamentary group met yesterday in Parliament chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed the issued pertaining to Ramanayaka’s allegations and conducting of polls to Provincial Councils.

Other members of the committee are stating Minister Eran Wickramaratne, Parliamentarian Ashu Marasinghe and Nishantha Nanayakkara PC.

State Minister Ramanayaka who at first said four ministers were drug addicts and later said there were 24 ministers who use drugs and narcotics were hotly debated in social and mainstream media and in political circuit.

The allegations took a serious turn when they were made after the arrest of drug lord Makandure Madush in Dubai, a fortnight ago.

The opposition and government members urged state minister Ramanayaka to disclose the names of ministers whom he said drug addicts. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)