Sacked SL Deputy Minister Mervin Silva visits North

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 August 2010, 07:16 GMT]
Mervin Silva, the Sri Lanka Deputy Minister sacked from his post by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for tying an officer of Samurdhi Bank to a tree, paid an unexpected visit to Jaffna and Vanni Sunday and Monday, sources in Vanni said. Mervin Silva, who spent most of his time in the North visiting important Sri Lanka Army (SLA) bases in Vanni meeting key officers, was given top security protection befitting a cabinet minister, sources in Vanni said. Mervin Silva, said to be a close friend of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is expected to be offered a high position in the Rehabilitation Ministry for the North, political observers in Jaffna said.

Mervin Silva visited Raamaavil camp in Kodikaamam in Thenmaraadchi where around 2500 persons uprooted from Mullaiththeevu and Vadamaraadchi East are held without being allowed to resettle in their own places.

He donated relief goods to the children in the camp before leaving to Vanni, the sources said.

The controversial Deputy Minister had earlier made a public proclamation that he would tie up any official to a tree, if anyone died of Dengue fever in his electorate and he carried out his warning on August 3 by ordering his supporters to tie a Samurdhi officer to a tree in the presence of media personnel specially invited for the event.