Sri Lanka's controversial Minister to resign from parliament

Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Labour, Dr. Mervyn Silva says that he will resign from the parliament in order to secure a position in the Constitutional Council.

Speaking to media he said, that obtaining a position in the Constitutional Council where only 10 members will be allowed to chair, would give him a better opportunity to serve the people.

Asked whether his decision has anything do with a disciplinary inquiry to probe the alleged assault of the news director at the state owned TV station by the Minister and his supporters, the Minster said that he took the decision by himself and has no connection with any disciplinary inquiry as he has not involved in any breaching of discipline.

Following the assault the SLFP Central Committee appointed a three-member committee headed by Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to probe the incident. The report of the investigation is due next week.

The Minister, who entered the parliament in 1994 from the Tissamaharama electorate in Hambantota from the Opposition United National Party and later crossed over to SLFP, said that he will continue to engage in political activities despite his resignation from the parliament.

Source: colombopost