“I’m not concerned that I wasn’t offered a ministerial portfolio from the coalition government, despite campaigning for the victory of the present President in the January polls,” former Minister Mevyn Silva said.
He asserted that he was among those who severely criticized the Rajapaksas while the family was still in power. “Not just after the abrupt end, I raised my voice against the Rajapaksas before the January polls,” Silva told Ada Derana web.
I campaigned for Sirisena
“I campaigned for the victory of President Maithripala Sirisena. I couldn’t reveal my stance since my son was in custody.
I had to face harassment and repeated infliction of distress and assault by the former President’s brothers. For reasons unknown, my son was not granted bail. It was a bailable offence,” Silva said.
He added he was disappointed that former President Rajapaksa was turning a blind eye towards his problems.
“However, I do respect him,” Silva said.
I have a clean record
The ex-Minister went on to say that his move to lodge a complaint against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not ‘motivated by revenge’.
“I have sufficient evidence to prove the guiltiness of Gotabaya Rajapaksa with respect to the complaint I lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). What I said was the truth,” Silva added.
He also claimed that his son was ambushed at a night club in Colombo where Malaka Silva (son) is alleged to have harassed a foreign woman.
“It was a pre-planned attack. An interrogator later revealed that it was Gotabaya who was behind the drama. Having realised this, I wanted to protect my family and myself,” he pointed out.
“I have a clean record. I have no corruption, bribery or rape allegations” Silva claimed. Citing the controversial incident, in which a Samurdhi officer was tied to a tree, he said “It was just a demonstration. But my rivals took advantage of it in a bid to counter attack.”
Stance on the national government
“A coalition government between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) is a revolutionary political solution. Of course I back the national government concept,” the former Minister said.
He added that not only the SLFP but the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the Jathika Hela Urumaya, Tamil parties and even the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) back the new government to form the national government; therefore it would be a disgrace to the whole nation if any party opposes the concept.
On who should be named as the SLFP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Silva said that he is totally against those who campaign to recall former President Rajapaksa to contest for the post.
“It was the former President who called for a snap election. The people rejected him.
Why should a person who held the highest position in the island nation wants to contest and get elected to an inferior post?
Those who campaign for Mahinda are the most corrupt,” he said.
He added that he is not worried that the new government did not invite him to take a ministerial portfolio, but he is happy for those who took oath and he will cooperate with them anytime.
