The Provincial Council minister who assaulted popular singer Saman de Silva should apologise to the entire school of artistes in the country, Sri Lanka Singers Association (SLASA) Joint Secretary Madumadhawa Aravinda said.

Speaking at a news conference convened to brief the media regarding the alleged assault on the popular singer Saman de Silva by the Southern Provincial Council Minister Bindu Weerasinghe during a musical show in Borella last Saturday night, Aravinda said they would not rest until the Provincial Council Minister apologises.

“This is the first time where a singer was assaulted while he was engaged in his profession. This is done just to get cheap political publicity. It is not just an assault on Saman de Silva but a blow to the entire school of artistes in the country,” Aravinda said.

Saman de Silva said he was expecting the president, Defence Secretary and the police chief would hold an impartial inquiry into the incident.

“I was singing at a musical show held at the Prisons Department after a football match in front of about 500 inmates. When I was singing my second song I was told that the minister had come. Then I said I like to see the minister’s face. Then someone identified as the Minister’s Media Secretary got on to the stage and slapped me asking, “What did you say to the minister?” When ASP Priyantha was attempting to prevent it he was also kicked twice. It was unfortunate that even a prison official was assaulted before prison inmates. He fled the scene when the people started to hoot at him and,” Saman said.

Popular Singer Sunil Perera said he was surprised to hear the claim that the minister was threatened by Saman de Silva as such a person who was capable of threatening a minister was there in Sri Lanka.

“If Saman has committed any offence, the Minister can take legal action,” Perera said.

Meanwhile, Colombo Additional Magistrate Jayaki de Alwis ordered the Borella police yesterday to arrest the Provincial Minister and the Media Secretary Iroshan Preethikumara and produce them before court.(Ajith Siriwardana)



Pix by Pradeep Pathirana