I was compelled to appoint probe committee

PM tells oppn. MPs on Ranjan’s statement:

• Says Ranjan did not attend UNF p’mentary group meeting on Wednesday

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had told several members of the opposition that he had been compelled to appoint a committee to look into the statement made by State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake on MPs using cocaine.  

He had told the opposition MPs that Mr. Ramanayake was yet to explain the statement made by him, and that he did not even attend the UNF parliamentary group meeting on Wednesday. 
“I was compelled to appoint a committee to look into the matter under these circumstances,” the Prime Minister had told opposition MPs. 

However, the opposition MPs had informed the premier that they faced difficulties owing to the statement made by Mr. Ramanayake.