Report on Mervyn still to come

Disciplinary action against Minister Mervyn Silva, who stormed into the Rupavahini Corporation and allegedly assaulted its news director, is likely to be further delayed, with the committee appointed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee to probe into the matter yet to release its final report.

“We are inquiring into the violation of the basic principles in this instance”, Minister John Seneviratne who is a member of the three-man committee said adding that further action would be taken based on the findings of the report.

The committee headed by Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was appointed on January 4 and was due to submit its report within two weeks but it is a long way off from concluding its inquiry. Meanwhile, the CID is continuing to interrogate the Rupavahini staff over the incident, a spokesperson for the joint trade unions of the SLRC said.

“The CID earlier identified 21 employees for further questioning and up to now there is no clear basis upon which those particular employees were identified,” he said.

He added that the SLRC staff has been regularly questioned by the CID following the incident, on broadcasting of the news item, the authorisation for its live telecast and on loss of advertising revenue.