Govt. Development officers stage mass protest demanding apology from minister

Photo courtesy: Indi Samarajeewa

By Dasun Edirisinghe | The Island
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Samurdhi Development officers on Thursday conducted a major protest campaign in many parts of the country, including the East, demanding a public apology from Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva, who tied a Samurdhi officer to a tree for his failure to attend a dengue prevention programme.

General Secretary of the Samurdhi Development Officers’ Union Chamara Maddumakaluge said all unions representing several political parties threw their weight behind the protest.

The irate trade union leader said that Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who is in charge of the Samurdhi programme, should be ashamed to allow the likes of Deputy Minister Silva to target Samurdhi workers. He accused Minister Rajapaksa of conveniently turning a blind eye to Deputy Minister Silva’s antics.

Large crowds gathered in Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Matara, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Chilaw, Batticaloa, Ratnapura, Trincomallee and Badulla to pressure the government to take punitive action against the unruly politician.

UPFA Uva Provincial Council members Chamara Sampath Dassanayake and Nimal Ratnayake and several Pradeshiya Sabha members participated in the protest held at the Hali Ela junction in Badulla.

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