Probe all incidents of ethanol and drug smuggling: Ranil

Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called for investigation of all incidents of smuggling of ethanol and drugs into the country, and not probe only the narcotics case connected with Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne's office.

Mr. Wickremesinghe also urged the Government to implement the provisions of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution as a means of reducing such corruption and malpractices. He was addressing the convention of the Bhikkhu Front of the United National Party at its headquarters Sirikotha in Pitakotte.

The Government has today encouraged the opening of casinos and ignored the smuggling of drugs and ethanol, he said.

"Most people are scared to come out and oppose these activities but the Bud- dhist clergy is working against these scourges without fear," the UNP Leader said.

He said the Government is investigating the incident where an official in the Prime Minister's office issued a letter requesting a waiver of duty on a container that was found to contain drugs,. Mr. Jayaratne's son has also been questioned in this regard and the Government should explain this case to the public, Mr Wickremesinghe said.

"There are many in the Government who issue letters to import drugs into the country. There are people in the Government who earn from the ethanol and drug business. All this should be investigated properly," he added.

The Opposition Leader said the 17th Amendment to the Constitution was essential to ensure that the entities specified in it were independent.

“I asked one person what will happen if his drugs container was taken into custody," Mr Wickremesinghe recounted. He said all he had to do was work as a government witness or make a statement against David Cameron.

It was no longer possible to expect the police to conduct raids. They should be made independent first. If the Government does this, the UNP will support it, he said.