Raynor to replace Duminda in politics

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

The President has decided to bring Duminda Silva’s brother, Raynor Silva into politics, a senior government minister said.

The President has tried several tactics to put pressure on Raynor to enter politics. The President has informed the head of the Inland Revenue Department to send letters demanding the immediate payment of millions of rupees Raynor’s ABC Media Networks owes to the Department.

Raynor has agreed to the President’s proposal in this backdrop. The President has agreed to appoint him as the SLFP organizer for Kolonnawa and has asked him to contest at the next local government elections.

The President has been informed that MP Duminda Silva who managed to survive fatal gun shot injuries to his head would not fully recover from the injuries although he continues to receive medical treatment overseas.

Therefore, sources from the Presidential Secretariat say that the Colombo District parliamentary seat occupied by Duminda Silva may fall vacant and former External Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama was likely to be appointed to parliament to fill the vacancy.

Although Chandana Kathriarachchi has polled the highest number of preferential votes among the UPFA members who were not elected to parliament, the President’s media advisors believe he would have a legal issue in entering parliament since he has been convicted for a murder by courts.