MR cancels RW’s meetings

 Saturday, 07 September 2013 

Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe says that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has prevented him from holding two election rallies for the forthcoming provincial council elections.

Wickremasinghe said at a demonstration in Galle Thursday (05) that his election rallies had to be cancelled since the President has decided to hold rallies at the same venue at the same

He noted that holding elections frequently is not a sign of democracy, but it is the holding of free and fair elections that was important.

Referring to the statement by the President that he was not a dictator since he held elections in the country, Wickremesinghe said that there needs to be media freedom, judicial independence and free and fair elections for there to be democracy in the country.

He further noted that Zimbabwe President Mugabe has elections in his country but that does not mean he is not a dictator.

Mervyn's disciplinary report out in two weeks Sunday, 08 Sep 2013 The report of a disciplinary inquiry conducted against Minister Mervyn Silva is to be presented to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee within the next two weeks, inside party sources revealed. The report had been swept under the carpet for over a year since a committee of SLFP seniors probed the allegations levelled against Minister Silva by the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha members led by its Chairman Prasanna Ranaweera. However, the latest development comes in the wake of reports that the controversial minister had burnt bridges with the powers that be. Silva is also being investigated by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Silva did not appear before the Commission when he was summoned last week to respond to a complaint lodged over his assets, instead sought additional time to respond to allegations. Silva has been investigated over luxury vehicles owned by his son, Malaka and as to how such assets were earned. Last year, the ruling party members of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha in a specially convened media conference accused Silva of extortion from local businesses and harbouring underworld kingpins. Several associates of Silva, whom he has since disowned, have been charged with the murder of Pradeshiya Sabha Member, Hasitha Madawala. Inside SLFP sources said the report contains the outcome of the investigation and responses provided by Minister Silva. Sources added the report will be made available to the media after its release.