The government said yesterday that Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva’s recent statement that he was responsible for chasing former Free Media Movement Convenor Poddala Jayantha out of the country was a matter for the police to deal with.
Cabinet Spokesman and Acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena responding to questions at a news conference in Colombo said that complaints pertaining to comments made by Mervyn should be directed at the police, since he was not in a position to do anything about it.
If Mr. Silva had threatened any journalist it was wrong and the government condemns it, Abeywardena said.
Poddala’s legs were broken on June 1, 2009 after some persons who had come in a white van had abducted him in broad daylight at Nugegoda.
Mervyn, addressing a rally in Kiribathgoda last week, also threatened to break the bones of Sunanda Deshapriya, the former Free Media Movement President and human rights activists Nimalka Fernando and Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu.
Zacki Jabbar
IS
Cabinet Spokesman and Acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena responding to questions at a news conference in Colombo said that complaints pertaining to comments made by Mervyn should be directed at the police, since he was not in a position to do anything about it.
If Mr. Silva had threatened any journalist it was wrong and the government condemns it, Abeywardena said.
Poddala’s legs were broken on June 1, 2009 after some persons who had come in a white van had abducted him in broad daylight at Nugegoda.
Mervyn, addressing a rally in Kiribathgoda last week, also threatened to break the bones of Sunanda Deshapriya, the former Free Media Movement President and human rights activists Nimalka Fernando and Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu.
Zacki Jabbar
IS