No one answers my calls now, Mervyn laments!

Friday, 05 June 2015

Former public relations minister Mervyn Silva had telephoned several wealthy businessmen friendly with him in order to book a hotel for a family trip to Kataragama.

He first called Aitken Spence hotel chain’s chairman Harry Jayawardena. As there was no response, he then called the chairman of Jetwing Hotels chain. Since, he too, did not respond, Mervyn called Nimal and Dhammika Perera.

In the past, all these businessmen used to promptly answer his calls, but now they had not even cared to call back. A severely dejected Mervyn told his crony ‘Lokka’ about the situation he was in now. “Not even a dog answers my calls.” He asked, “Why, minister, what is it you want?” when Mervyn told him about what he wanted, ‘Lokka’ advised him to call Saranapala of Kollupitiya and book a room at his hotel in Ella.

Soon afterwards, Mervyn called Saranapala and said, “Let me stay for one day at your hotel. But, Machan, you should charge from me. Or else, I will not come.” Saranapala replied, “OK. Minister, it is just for one day. I will keep two rooms ready. You go.” Mervyn and his family stayed at Saranapala’s hotel for one week without paying a cent. Hereafter, Saranapala too, will not answer Mevyn’s calls.

Mervyn, who gives the money he has amassed through illegal means to borrowers through middlemen, recently faced a big problem. His key broker ‘Kalu Ranja’ had given Rs. 40 million to a businessman a few years ago. The businessman had been paying the interest on time, but later suffered from a mental illness and went mad. Losing his money and interest due, Mervyn had gone to ‘Kalu Ranja’s home with a group thugs and tried his pranks there. Angered by that, members of the businessman’s family told him, “Minister, don’t come to put parts which you put in the past. This is Yaha Paalane. Now, the Yama Paalane is over. Not even a dog is afraid of you now. Once this man becomes well, settle your deals. If you come here once again, we will not let you go,” and expelled him.