President has failed to take any action against Mervyn Silva

The Free Media Movement (FMM) says the Minister Silva's behaviour at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) is a "prima facie cause for summary dismissal".

Labour minister Dr. Mervyn Silva and his aides are accused of assaulting SLRC news director, TMG Chandrasekara, at the SLRC premises.

The minister was angry that the SLRC did not telecast his derogatory and indecent remarks at a rally in Matara, in which President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also present.

Derogatory remarks

Demanding an apology, the SLRC workers have taken the controversial minister hostage for nearly three hours after the alleged assault.

	Minister Silva has threatened media personnel in many occasions

The minister was assaulted by the SLRC workers as he refused to apologise to the new director.

In a statement issued on Monday, the FMM has expressed serious alarm that President Rajapaksa who failed his duty to discipline the minister has expressed his displeasure for having live telecasts the events at the SLRC.

Minister Silva, who failed to get elected in April 2004 parliamentary elections, was later appointed as a National List MP by then President, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

'Criminal investigation'

He has made indecent remarks against Bandaranaike family and former Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera on 26 November at a rally to mark the anniversary of the Asian Tsunami.

FMM hopes that disciplinary action against Minister Silva will accompany the necessary criminal investigations and prosecutions that must ensue from his behaviour, if the integrity of the Rule of Law and public confidence in democratic institutions are to be upheld FMM statement

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya on Sunday, the minister said he visited the SLRC as the state-owned institution has failed to carry out its duty.

The media minister, Mervyn Silva said, did not take any action regarding his continuous complaints made against the SLRC.

The FMM says President Rajapaksa in his capacity as the current leader of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has failed to take any action against the minister as the head of state as well as the SLFP leader.

Public Service Broadcasters

"FMM hopes that disciplinary action against Minister Silva will accompany the necessary criminal investigations and prosecutions that must ensue from his behaviour, if the integrity of the Rule of Law and public confidence in democratic institutions are to be upheld," the statement added.

FMM says President Rajapaksa himself acknowledged the need for reforms in the public service broadcasters

The watchdog recalls that President Rajapaksa himself acknowledged the need for reforms in the public service broadcasters (PSB) in a discussion held in August this year.

Noting that situations such as Minister Silva's unruly behaviour would not have occurred had the SLRC been a PSB, the FMM has called on the President to implement the suggested reforms.