Mervin Silva abuses Sirasa journalists

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 June 2009, 04:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka Minister of Labour Mervin Silva grabbed the microphone from Sirasa TV station reporters and threw it on the ground at an event held in Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), alleging that Sirasa TV station and its journalists are traitors of the country, media sources in Colombo said. The event was organized to felicitate the journalists who covered the Vanni battle along with Sri Lanka Army.

Mervin Silva speaking at the event said that there was no second word that the journalists who worked hard to safeguard the sovereignty of the country should be honored. He added that the journalists of Sirasa TV station who had been working with the international community to degrade the self respect of the country and its independence do not deserve the honor.

Then Mervin Silva rushed to the Sirasa journalists who were present to cover the event and pulled down the microphone from them and threw it on the ground.

Media Minister Lakshman Abeywardene and other officials of the ruling party were present at the event when this incidence occurred.

In August 2008, five leading media associations along with political leaders and others staged a protest demonstration at Colpetty junction in Colombo, condemning Minister Mervin Silva’s assault on media persons who participated in the opening ceremony of Kelaniya flyover.