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Club attack: The phantom Mervyn
A mob of about a hundred reportedly led by UPFA Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva smashed up three Colombo clubs last Saturday night - but two security guards and a manager who earlier identified the deputy minister are now claiming they made a mistake about his identity.

But at least ten eyewitnesses told The Sunday Times reporters at the scene of the crime that they saw the deputy minister instigating the mob while it is also revealed that the two security guards who withdrew their statements, work for a security firm run by the once powerful Ratwatte family members of Mervyn Silva’s SLFP.

The deputy minister was easily recognisable, they said, because the city was plastered with his picture following his recent appointment by President Kumaratunga as a deputy minister.

The two security guards lodged complaints at the Cinnamon Gardens Police soon after the attack on the Sopranos karaoke club, the Clancy's nightclub and the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC).

Two days after the attack, the security guards who made statements that Mr. Silva was armed and led the attack, retracted their statements. But, they were not the only persons who have changed their mind, several others also who spoke to The Sunday Times soon after the attack confirming the presence of the deputy minister have also had second thoughts.

Controversy swirls as to whether and how the complainants were forced to change their statements amidst allegations that the deputy minister himself was seen at the police station after the attack.

On Friday, Colombo's Chief Magistrate Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena ordered the Police to arrest those responsible for the attack and produce them in courts. Though a mob of about 100 had attacked the clubs, the police have not yet arrested a single person.

The Magistrate ordered that those who had now changed their statements should be produced in courts for her to decide whether they had violated the law.

The two security officers who made statements about the deputy minister and then changed them were identified as K. A. T. S. Bogahawatte and T. P. N. Fernando of the Brave Guards organization run by Mahen Ratwatte, son of former deputy defence minister Anuruddha Ratwatte.

In their first statement to the police, the security guards said that Deputy Minister Silva had come to the club with a group of around 100, in jeeps, vans and three-wheelers.

The guards claimed that the mob which stormed in around 8.20 p.m. last Saturday had overpowered them, entered the lounge and smashed up the glass doors, windows, television sets and liquor racks.

They said that the mob had grabbed mobile phones from visitors and bottles of imported liquour. The damage cost to the club was estimated at Rs. 298,866. The CCC Manager in a separate complaint to the police said the damage to his club was estimated at Rs. 225,000.

Security guard Bogahawatte claimed in his first statement that several in the mob carried pistols and one person whom he later identified as Deputy Minister Silva had aimed a pistol at his head while ordering the mob to attack the club. Security guard Fernando had also claimed Deputy Minister Silva was carrying a pistol and was heard ordering the mob to attack.

But now the guards have changed their statements. In their amended statements, they say they had made a mistake in identifying Deputy Minister Silva. They claimed the mistake might have been linked to the previous day's incident where the deputy minister's son and his guards were prevented from carrying firearms into the club.

Cinnamon Gardens Crimes Inspector Kumarasiri Uduwella said that police were finding it difficult to make any arrest as no suspect was being identified.

“We don’t have decent politics,” complains Mervyn
Quoting or probably even misquoting Lord Buddha and the values of Sinhala Buddhist culture, Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva has vowed he would alway be Mervyn Silva and would not give in to anyone who was trying to undermine him. In an outspoken interview with The Sunday Times in the aftermath of last Saturday's attacks on clubs, Mr. Silva denied allegations against him and his son. Excerpts:

You have been accused of being involved in the attack on the clubs but you are claiming that people are trying to fix you. Why should anyone implicate you.
Some people with malicious intentions want to undermine my position in the party to weaken me politically. Action should be taken against me if only I had committed murder, theft or any crime. I fear no one as I have not committed any crime.

Why was your name mentioned in the first statement the clubs' security guards gave to the police?
Anyone can mention names in a police statement. That does not mean some one was involved. Now plaques are being opened by people whose names are not in the plaque. Likewise anyone can mention my name anywhere, I don't mind it.

It is reported a UPFA cabinet minister and a deputy had met the club owners and pledged that action would be taken against those involved in the attack.
That is not under my purview. So I won't say anything.

Did the two of them apologize and promise to pay damages, as reported in the media?
I think the question is irrelevant as it does not involve me.

Was your son involved in a dispute at the club the previous night? Was he carrying a weapon?
My son Malaka had been abroad for several years, studying Computer Science in Britain and the United States. He returned some time ago and I know he goes out here and there for recreation. He is an excellent dancer and won a five-star hotel competition recently. That night he had gone to Clancy's with my Personal Assistant Sanjeewa Wattegama and he was not allowed to enter. Lord Buddha was once asked by a king as to why the enlightened one had committed a forbidden act. (Perform the yamaka maha prathiharya). Then Lord Buddha answered that he was the enlightened one he had the authority to do it.

We have heard that you had made a complaint to the Police. Why did you do that?
After Friday's incident involving my son I went along with my Personal Assistant to lodge a complaint. But the Sub Inspector who was on duty at the time was reluctant to record my complaint. This is all part of a conspiracy against me. We don't have decent politics. However, this Mervyn Silva will not be leaving politics. The people need to know that I withdrew my candidature and did not contest for the April elections, as a person whom I objected to had been included in the list at the last moment. I came to Parliament because of the honesty of the President.

JVP MPs have pointed a finger at you and asked that action be taken.
When the JVP points a finger at me, it reminds me of the Thirthakayas who tried hard to defame Lord Buddha. The JVPers should have had the decency to first ask me as to what happened without going to the media for cheap publicity.

It is reported that you part own a casino club near a leading school in Kollpitiya?
I do not have ownership of any club any where. I am a businessman and so long as it is a legal trade I don't dislike owning one. When a society is developing, the springing up of clubs is inevitable. But we should not let that harm our Sinhala Buddhist culture. I have written to the President, asking her to impose a tax on Ruchino clubs, similar to the tax on casinos. And with her blessings I will personally as a Sinhala Buddhist strive to close down all clubs. I value the independence of the media but I would emphasize that Mervyn Silva is not the kind of person who would go backwards.

No politics, judge warns police
Colombo's Chief Magistrate has ordered the Cinnamon Gardens Police to immediately arrest and produce before courts the suspects responsible for the attacks on the clubs -- irrespective of political affiliations.

Magistrate Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena said politicians would come and politicians would go but the Police must act impartially and arrest the suspects. She ordered the police to also produce before her the two security guards who withdrew their earlier statements that Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva was leading the mob.

The Police told the Court that none of the persons involved in the attack had been positively identified. The case will be taken up again on November 19.

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