Former Sri Lanka minister Mervyn Silva arrested 15 years after he stormed state TV
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department has arrested former minister Mervyn Silva for storming the headquarters of the state-owned national television network Rupavahini Corporation in 2007.
Police said Silva was arrested at his residence in Pelawatte, Colombo, on Thursday August 18.
The arrest was made following a directive by the Attorney General, police said.
The incident occurred in the first term of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Silva, who was labour minister at the time, stormed the Rupavhini premises allegedly over a news story that had earned his wrath.
The minister came under attack by irate Rupavahini employees who nearly beat him into submission, forcing him to make a quick escape with his bodyguards.
Incidentally, Silva’s arrest 15 years later, followed the arrest of a protestor who also stormed the Rupavahini headquarters and allegedly forced employees to air programming that was approved by Sri Lanka’s anti-government protestors. (Colombo/Aug18/2022)
