Minister's son is accused of assaulting police officers

He accused some media institutions run by ‘racketeers and foreign powers’ of being biased towards interested parties.

Dr. Silva has ordered the journalists not to take photographs on his arrival at Colombo Fort police station to visit his son, who was arrested for assaulting police officers.

Police assaulted

He was particularly critical of private media institutions Sirasa and Swarnavahini.

The police on Monday released Malaka Manoj Silva, son of the minister, and two others who were arrested at the night club in Taj Samudra hotel last week for assaulting and threatening to shoot police officers.

A wounded police officer has been admitted to hospital and one more reported to be suffering from head injuries.

The officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau were assaulted when they raided the night club on suspicion that some club-goers were in the possession of narcotics.

Re-appointed

Assistant superintendent of Police (ASP) Champika Siriwardhana said the minister’s son, Sampath Kumara Rajapakse and Prasanna Kumara Suresh were released on police bail but may need to appear before the police in the future.

Mervyn Silva earlier resigned from his deputy ministerial portfolio after his son was accused of involving in a brawl in a night club.

He was re-instated as a deputy minister by President Chandrika Kumaratunga during a minor cabinet reshuffle last week.

Dr. Silva, who lost the general elections in April 2004, was later appointed as a member of the parliament from the national list by the president.