Irrigation Minister and Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management State Minister Chamal Rajapaksa told Parliament yesterday that he would not allow any proposal to earn foreign exchange by exporting cannabis.
He made this observation in response to a query by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Hesha Withanage. Minister Rajapaksa said that anyone could make such a proposal but he would not allow any such move.
MP Withanage said one of the Cabinet ministers had been reported by the media having stated that ganja should be legalized and Sri Lanka could earn foreign exchange by exporting cannabis. He said one Minister supported this view and queried if the government shared the same view. He queried if the government was planning to strengthen the economy by exporting cannabis.
When Minister Rajapaksa queried the name of the Minister MP Withanage denied. However Minister Rajapaksa said he thought it would be better if Withanage asked the question from the Trade Minister. He added that he would not allow such a move under his watch.
