No disciplinary action against Ranjan-UNP

By Yohan Perera   

United National Party (UNP) working committee yesterday decided not to take disciplinary action against State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake who accused that MPs in Parliament uses cocaine.   

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told journalists that party leadership allowed Mr. Ramanayake to make a statement and then decided not to take any action. “We have decided not to take any action against him as he did not accuse any government Minister or an MP of consuming cocaine.” Mr. Kariyawasam said. Also he said that Mr. Ramanayake informed the working committee that some of his statements had been misquoted by the media.   

Mr. Ramanayake said the party leadership gave an opportunity to make broad statement. “I was asked to explain about the statements I made. I expressed my stand. I said I wanted to fight the drug dealers. I said what I wanted is to prevent the drug dealers from getting tickets to contest elections in the future. Everyone listened to me,”  

Some members such as Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa defended me while others opposed. He did not disclose the names of those who opposed to him.  

Also he said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had asked him as to who is the woman politician whom he accused of taking cocaine. “I told the him that he should not worry about it, as she was not a politician from our party,” Mr. Ramanayake said.   

Asked why he was refusing to publish the names of MPs who use cocaine, the State Minister said he did not have to publish the names as he had already given the names to the CID.   
“This issue will end if MPs go through blood tests and publish the results,” State Minister Ramanayake said.   

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told journalists that party leadership allowed Mr. Ramanayake to make a statement and then decided not to take any action. “We have decided not to take any action against him as he did not accuse any government Minister or an MP of consuming cocaine.” Mr. Kariyawasam said. Also he said that Mr. Ramanayake informed the working committee that some of his statements had been misquoted by the media.   

Mr. Ramanayake said the party leadership gave an opportunity to make broad statements. “I was asked to explain about the statements I made. I expressed my stand. I said I wanted to fight the drug dealers. I said what I wanted is to prevent the drug dealers from getting tickets to contest elections in the future. Everyone listened to me,” 

 
Some members such as Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa defended me while others opposed. He did not disclose the names of those who opposed him.  Also he said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had asked him as to who is the woman politician whom he accused of taking cocaine. “I told him that he should not worry about it, as she was not a politician from our party,” Mr. Ramanayake said.   

Asked why he was refusing to publish the names of MPs who use cocaine, the State Minister said he did not have to publish the names as he had already given the names to the CID.   “This issue will end if MPs go through blood tests and publish the results,” State Minister Ramanayake said.   

He did not accuse any government Minister or an MP of consuming cocaine