Sri Lankan Minister Mervyn Silva has been cleared by a party ‘disciplinary hearing’, following comments made by the Minister threatening journalists and human rights activists after the 19th UN Human Rights Council session.
According to the Sri Lankan Mirror, the ruling Sri Lankan Freedom Party’s central committee cleared Silva, with Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi noting that they could not punish the minister based on reports in the media, which may not be true.
Silva was reported to have said,
“If you get caught to me in Sri Lanka, I will break your limbs in public. I say this responsibly. No matter who conspires against me.”
He also said, “I am the one who chased Poddala Jayantha from Sri Lanka,” he said, referring to the journalist who fled the country due to threats issued against him for criticising the government.
See a video of Mervyn Silva making these comments below.
See our earlier post: “I will break your limbs in public!” – Minister threat to human rights activists (23 Mar 2012)