Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera has asked his Private Secretary Sameera Manahara to resign in the light of the recent drug controversy, Asian Mirror reliably learns.

Manahara was his Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Ports and Aviation between 2004 and 2007. During Samaraweera's seven years in the Opposition, Manahara was one of his principal coordinators and campaign managers.

On Saturday night Sameera Manahara and three of his friends were arrested by Police after quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine pills and hashish were found in the luxury jeep they were travelling in.

One of the occupants of the jeep had confessed to the drugs belonging to him and upon being produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate he was remanded further while Sameera Manahara and two others were released on bail.

Issuing a statement, the Media Minister's Media Secretary said on Monday that Manahara was not implicated in the drug bust as he was unaware that his friend was in possession of drugs.