7 July 2010 06:38 am
Deputy Minister of Highways Mervyn Silva reserved his grave site today when he visited the Borella Cemetery to commemorate the 23rd death anniversary of famous singer H.R. Jothipala.
The Minister who was standing near the grave site of the late singer amidst a small gathering of people suddenly took everyone by surprise when he said he wanted to reserve his own block as the future was unpredictable.
Minister Silva then walked over to an empty block, close to the later singer’s grave and said he wanted to reserve it for himself and told his secretary to telephone Special Commissioner for the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Omar Kamil. After a private telephone conversation between Mr. Kamil and Minister Silva, the Minister returned back to the crowd and said he had informed the CMC of his reserved block.
However when Daily Mirror online contacted Mr. Kamil, he said that Minister Silva had telephone him to speak about his mother's matter who had passed away a few months ago and not about himself.
In front of the crowd Minister Silva then called the Chief Cemetery Keeper who was also present at the gathering and told him to remember ‘Mervyn Silva’s grave site’ and emphasized that he should be buried at that particular spot after his death.
To add more amusement to his sudden outburst, Minister Silva then turned to the crowd and told them that he would have purchased his coffin today if only there was space in his house. “If I could, I would even purchase my coffin now. Unfortunately I do not have space to keep it in my home,” Minister Silva said.
He added, “Everyone has to die someday. The future is very unpredictable. People can have money, but this does not matter. Money cannot prevent death. Therefore I am not afraid to die,” the Minister told the crowd.
Minister Silva then personally stood at his own grave site along with the Chief Cemetery Keeper and got his block marked and cleaned by the Cemetery workers.
He then called on a man from the crowd who had his drum ready and told him to play one of Jothipala’s songs before leaving the cemetery. (Daily Mirror online)