Some Sri Lankan ministers are addicted to drugs and prostitutes, claims ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka

Colombo: A former Sri Lankan Army chief who is now an MP has hit out at Ministers and MPs in his country, calling more than half the members of Parliament as "undesirables" and alleged that some Cabinet Ministers were addicted to drugs and prostitutes.

"The people are convinced that this Parliament cannot find solutions to their problems," Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, a member of the main opposition SJB and MP from Gampaha, was quoted as saying in the Island newspaper on Thursday.

“More than half of the MPs are undesirables. They have a criminal history. Some of them still are engaged in anti-social and criminal activities. It is my estimate that only around 15 percent of MPs have a vision and capacity to be fit for an MP.

"In the new Cabinet there are persons who use narcotics from dawn to dusk and some who spend nights with prostitutes. People know that a Cabinet with such persons accused of corruption and debauchery cannot solve their problems."

Fonseka, who headed the army when Sri Lanka militarily crushed the Tamil Tigers, said that 80 per cent of Sri Lankans live on 20 per cent of national income.

"They also know that they would not benefit from these debates or what we speak here. These speeches would not help dull pangs of hunger. We must understand this situation."

Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman, also from SJB, warned that Sri Lanka was seated on "a simmering volcano".

"There will be violence if the government does not address the people’s problems urgently. Foreign media reports say that there has been a 30 per cent increase of female sex workers in recent months in this country. The economy has collapsed.

"People no longer can afford the prices of essential items. A recent survey at a Children Hospital in Colombo has revealed that malnutrition among children is increasing. There are terrible times ahead of us. The government should listen to people without playing games to stay in power. The President must resign," he added.

Sri Lanka's worst economic meltdown since independence in 1948 has led to widespread shortages of food, fuel and medicines, sparking unending anti-government protests. (UNI)