Shavendra accused of abusing Keheliya’s daughter

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

 Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s daughter who is working at the office of Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Chandula, has been abused by the Deputy Permanent Representative, Major General Shavendra Silva, an official from the office told Lanka News Web.

The Minister’s daughter has complained to senior embassy officials that Silva had forcibly dragged her into his office and tried to abuse her and that she had managed to escape after giving a good fight.

Angered by the incident, the Minister has complained to the President and asked that an inquiry be held with immediate effect.

The President has promised to take action against Shavendra Silva and had asked the Minister to keep quiet about the matter and to not act upon it.

The President has believed that any publicity given to a story about Shavendra Silva turning abusive could be used by the LTTE supporters for their benefit.

The President has also reminded the Minister how he had to intervene and send Chandula to the Sri Lankan embassy in the UN amidst much opposition.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 January 2012 16:37

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Journalist assaulted at Media Minister’s 

party

Tuesday, 10 January 2012 

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s security personnel have assaulted a journalist following an argument at the annual party organized by the Minister for journalists, which was held at the Galle Face Hotel on the 6th.

Over 500 media personnel and other invitees have attended the party and the journalist who had been assaulted is one Sumith Jayasinghe attached to the state owned Lake House institution.

Although Jayasinghe had not been invited for the booze party, he was taken for it by Deepal Samarasekera from Dinamina and Chanda Bandara who writes the mud slinging column at Lake House.

Interestingly, senior journalists have not attended this booze party organized by Media Ministry Secretary W.B. Ganegala.

The Minister, Ministry Secretary and other senior officials had been served imported whisky while the journalists had been served cheap local arrack. Since there had not been any bites served during the booze party, the journalists have started to find humor in each other.

The reason for the clash had also been over bites.

A journalist who attended the party said that it was so far the worst party to be organized by the Media Ministry. He said the journalists were not served proper meals or drinks and that some had even left the venue on empty stomach.

He added that many journalists who attended the party had left discussing that the Ministry Secretary who is to retire shortly and the Minister may have earned several thousands of rupees from the party.