The Police arrested former minister Mervin Silva’s son Malaka Silva on charges of issuing death threats to a businessman from Battaramulla urging him to finance former minister Mervin Silva’s election campaign.
The businessman, who is a resident of Battaramulla and involved in the export of fish products, had filed a complaint with the Thalangama Police stating that Malaka Silva had initially requested Rs. 100, 000.
Malaka Silva is reported to have requested the businessman, who was his friend, to fund his father’s election campaign via a phone call on 09 June.
The businessman had informed Malaka Silva that his business was running at a loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will provide funding in due time.
Malaka Silva is then reported to have continued requesting funding from the businessman via SMS and WhatsApp, eventually, resorting to threatening him.
An angry Malaka Silva is then said to have issued a death threat over a phone call with the businessman on 15 June.
The businessman had thereafter filed a complaint with the Thalangama Police in this regard on 16 June.
The Thalangama Police had commenced an investigation into the complaint and has also deployed a separate team to arrest Malaka Silva. (With inputs from Colombo Gazette)