Mervyn still at large

Labour Minister Mervyn Silva is still at large, 48 hours after a court order was issued calling for his arrest.
Police Spokesperson, SSP Ranjith Gunasekera told Sri lankan news paper that ‘action would be taken’ following the court order.
"The IG has said that action would be taken in line with the court order, but I cannot tell what the action would be," he said.
Gunasekera also said that Silva has not been arrested yet.
Meanwhile, the JVP yesterday charged that Minister Mervyn Silva who has been ordered by courts to be arrested over the assault of a journalist has requested the police for security to attend a UPFA election rally in Anuradhapura today (20).
JVP’s chief ministerial candidate for the North Central Province, Wasantha Samarasinghe told the media yesterday that Silva had forwarded a request to the Anuradhapura police to provide him with a back up vehicle for security to attend a government rally in Anuradhapura.
Samarasinghe said the it would be interesting to see how the police would respond to the request given the court order that has already been issued to the police calling for Silva’s arrest.
He said that the government has now been given ‘a last chance’ to show to the people that it stands for and protects democracy in the country by arresting Silva following the court order.
"Arresting Mervyn Silva would show that the government respected democracy and would also help protect the independence of the judiciary. So far the court order has been ignored and the police is avoiding his arrest," he charged.
Samarasinghe said that if the Anuradhapura police provide a back up vehicle to Silva for security, it could be considered that it was done with the blessings of President Mahinda Rajapakse as he is the Commander in Chief.
He alleged that Silva has acted with ‘great power’ in requesting for additional security from the police when the same police has been ordered to arrest him because he knew that no action would be taken against him.
"This would be yet another chance for the people to see how genuine the government is in safeguarding democracy," Samarasinghe said.

Religious leaders met the Commisioner of Elections

Members of the Society of Religions met the Commissioner of Elections today to request him to take steps to ensure the provincial council election is free of violence. Among the religious leaders that attended the meeting were Ven. Ittapane Dhamalankara Thera, Ven. Brahamanwatte Sivali Thera, Ven Maduluwave Sobitha Thera and Archbishop of Colombo Rev. Oswald Gomis.

Religious and ethnic amity are essential forerunners for lasting peace

Some of the happy novice monks in front of the Sanghawasa constructed by the Don Bosco Salasians Sri Lanka at Palugollagama
( The Sanghawasa was built by the Sri Lanka Don Bosco Salarians at a cost of around Rs 1.5 million and the donation was offered by Rev Fr Anthony Humor Pinto, Sri Lanka Country Director/Provincial Superior, Don Bosco Salasians Sri Lanka.) pic - Asian Tribune