By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

It was reported that a State Minister had come to the meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) after consuming liquor.   

When contacted by Daily Mirror, COPE Member Dayasiri  Jayasekara confirmed the situation. “This State Minister attended the  meeting after consuming liquor and was seen instructing the officials of  his ministry on answering the questions raised by the members of COPE,”  the MP said. 

  
“I raised an objection to his presence, as it is unethical  for a State Minister or a cabinet Minister to attend the meetings of a  committee when the institutions that come under his ministry is taken up  for discussion. Even I refrained from attending COPE meetings when  institutions under the sports ministry was taken up for discussion  during my tenure as the Minister of Sports,” he said.   

“The State Minister left the meeting after a while and the matter ended with his departure,” he added.