Basil and Gota on an ideological clash over Mervyn

Sunday, 29 April 2012

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is displeased with the governing party Gampaha District Leader and Minister Basil Rajapaksa for publicly expressing support to Minister Mervyn Silva, a senior government minister said.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa got several of Mervyn’s lackeys who were involved in the drug business and extortion using white vans and were later released on Presidential directives.

It was Colonel Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who instigated and supported the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and other governing party members in the Council against Mervyn. Gotabhaya had acted in this manner with the consent of the President and Minister Basil Rajapaksa had also supported the moves.

The minister who gave us the information said that Mervyn managed to score Brownie points and became the President’s loyal servant after standing by the President when he was isolated after the Geneva crisis. The President had then asked SLFP General Secretary and Minister Maithripala Sirisena to slowly set aside the disciplinary inquiry into Mervyn’s conduct and asked Gotabhaya to stop all operations against Mervyn.

Basil Rajapaksa expressed support to Mervyn after this incident. Regardless of the clashes between the Rajapaksa brothers or their wives, they have always managed to unite when their positions and authority have been under threat.

Therefore, the minister said that none of the government ministers believed when they say the Rajapaksa brothers were at loggerheads.