Professor Dinesh K. Gunasekara yesterday lodged a criminal complaint against former Minister Mervyn Silva at the Police Headquarters based on having publicly tied a Samurdhi Officer to a tree in August 2010.

“This was one of the most inhumane acts carried out by a person holding public office. According to the complaint the offence committed by Mr. Silva was a violation of the Criminal Code and Sri Lanka’s Constitution because it is only a police or a judicial officer who can arrest or detain a citizen of the country,” the complainant told Daily Mirror. “I was living abroad all these years and prior to my departure I had spearheaded public interest litigation. Upon my arrival I found that there had been no proceedings instituted by the Police or any other state agencies against this act and the person who had carried out, therefore I decided to lodge a criminal complaint against Mervyn Silva,” he said.

Prof. Gunasekara said if the police did not investigate his complaint he would not hesitate to institute legal proceedings in Court against the notorious minister.( Hafeel Farisz and Darshana Sanjeewa)