Mervyn no more says Keheliya

7 May 2010 05:48 am - 25 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Sumaiya Rizvi

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who assumed duties at the Ministry today responding to journalists said that Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva cannot decide if he will continue as the Deputy Media Minister and the decision can only be taken by the President.

“My friend Mervyn cannot decide if he is going to continue being my Deputy. That is for the President to decide. We will see in the coming days what happens,” Minister Rambukwella said.

A notable absentee in today morning's event at the Media Ministry was Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva who claims that he is still the Deputy Media Minister.

Confusion prevailed in the media circles these last two days whether Mervyn Silva continued to hold the post as Deputy Media Minister after he was sworn in as the Deputy of Highways by President Mahinda Rajapakse on Wednesday.

It is learnt that Silva had handed in his resignation to the President on Wednesday morning, the same day that Rambukwella took oaths as the new Media Minister.

President Rajapakse had accepted his resignation.

The President's office, when contacted by Daily Mirror online on Wednesday morning confirmed that Silva had handed over his resignation and had sought a new ministry.

Daily Mirror online learns that Silva's sudden resignation was a result of a dispute between him and Minister Rambukwella.

However despite the resignation fiasco, Silva, that same day, insisted that he would retain the Deputy Media Minister post despite being handed over a new portfolio.

Silva maintained that the rumours of his resignation were wrong and also went public by saying that he had come up with new plans for the betterment of the media.

To further make his point, Silva telephoned the Daily Mirror online office yesterday afternoon as the ‘Deputy Media Minister’ to inquire about senior Daily Mirror journalist Sandun Jayasekara and said he would ensure that there is no harm to journalists.

Silva had also expressed concern over the assault.

Meanwhile, Minister Rambukwella speaking to journalists today also expressed concern over the assault on Jayasekara and said that he would take the matter up with the PSD.

"I am not trying to justify what happened with Sandun and I know that this is not the first and the last time that such incidents will take place. However as the media minister, I will do whatever it takes to minimise this type of activity," Minister Rambukwella said. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 25

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:51 AM

Nice closing statement at the end of the article. So why bother having someone in charge of the Ministries if they have no control over what happens in their respective areas?

Friday, 07 May 2010 10:34 PM

Mervin is best suited for roads because once he said that if he found 'boulders' in his way, he would break them and move forward - what better prerequisite for a road-minder?

Friday, 07 May 2010 12:28 PM

COGRADULATIONS KHELIYA WISH YOU TO TURN A NEW LEAF ON THE MEDIA FREEDOM

Friday, 07 May 2010 10:21 AM

Then, Aluthananda Gamage is also an old SLFPer. Not an alternative UNPer or one who crossed over to long ago. Though he hid the scepter in parliament of UNP!

Friday, 07 May 2010 09:25 AM

Here's the difference. Mervyn got large number of votes because he did, I mean did work. He made roads, helped people despte all his antics. On the contrary, Keheliya won in Kandy because of his heroic words during the war, staying in Colombo. If you can, show me a small piece of what he has done to his electorate.

Friday, 07 May 2010 09:21 AM

Sorry Amila.G? What did you say. The both are of identical breed and they do the same kind of jobs.

Friday, 07 May 2010 09:18 AM

Moving MS to Deputy highways was done by MR, he surely will do a better Job as Deputy Highways

Good luck boys,
RSS

Friday, 07 May 2010 09:07 AM

Kehalya is one of main character who Build up the Moral of the People & the forces during the war. To the People who were against the war may see him as a Joker. But he really deserve this Ministry for what he did during the war. Hope you can keep it up KR…

Friday, 07 May 2010 08:02 AM

KEHELIYA IS DEFINITELY FROM A BETTER STOCK.

Friday, 07 May 2010 07:36 AM

There is a Jackfruit, all crows are fighting to take the maximum possiblefor their own from the jackfruit.

Friday, 07 May 2010 07:33 AM

Really Cynic. you watch out SL is going to have a better news soon!

Friday, 07 May 2010 07:28 AM

Keheliya will only minimise - what does that mean - is it one a day or once a week of assualts and disappearences?? Actually he should completely stop it. So he has no control is it ?

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:58 AM

The best news since the death of Prabhakaran.

Friday, 07 May 2010 05:56 AM

Why is there such a lot of controversy - I thought Mervyn resigned. We really got NIC status - NATION IN CONFUSION. Govt backbenchers criticise the UNP for having a little dissension - when they are having dissensions from the highest levels of government. SUBHA ANAGATHAYAK TO SRI LANKA.

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:37 AM

Keheliya is also a joker like Merwyn. Atleast Merwyn admits he is joker!!

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:36 AM

What has happened to all those degrees Dr. Mervyn Silva had ?. How come suddenly he is mentioned as just plain Silva. Not even as Mr. Silva. Is it because he doesn't have any power any more.

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:33 AM

sri lanka is the Banana State,no rules,no regulation and literate society is backward,therefore no need universities and law college hence this waste of public fund. i am unable to understand,we are proudly telling others in Asia about our highly literated percentage of people,sri lankans never realised,what they are want from good governance of governament.

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:31 AM

He was a UNPer prior to moving to SLFP

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:29 AM

KR will not assault journalists in public, but he is in the same category as MS.

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:29 AM

Ex-minister seems to enjoy hopping from ministry to ministry.
Where will he end up?

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:26 AM

Mervyn is double turncoat ..

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:09 AM

mervyn is a true SLFPer he should be looked after unlike the turncoat

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:07 AM

Then how did he meet some foreign people from one UN related organization yesterday to discuss matters related to media. What hillarious situation.

Friday, 07 May 2010 06:04 AM

Yes, Nation in Confusion (NIC)> The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

Friday, 07 May 2010 05:57 AM

Is that statement going to make a huge difference?

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Mervyn no more says Keheliya

Comments - 25

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