Police hunt for Malaka as Army probes major’s conduct

Two special teams were deployed yesterday by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to arrest Malaka Silva, son of Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva.

This is over allegations that he together with Rehan Wijeratne, son of late Parliamentarian Mano Wijeratne, allegedly assaulted Major Chandana Pradeep, an officer attached to the Military Intelligence Corps (MIC).

The incident is said to have taken place around 2.30 a.m. on Monday when Malaka Silva accompanied by Mr. Wijeratne and five bodyguards dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by Ministerial Security Division (MSD) officers were returning from the night club at JAIC Hilton at Union Place.

Malaka Silva had reportedly asked the Major for a cigarette lighter and later allegedly abused him, leading to an altercation. Malaka Silva and his bodyguards are alleged to have assaulted the major, grabbed his pistol, mobile phone and a gold chain. Major Pradeep is now warded at the Army Hospital.

A senior CCD officer, who is not authorised to speak to the media, said he had been directed by Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon to make the arrest. “So far we have not failed in arresting any wanted person. We are confident that our division can arrest him,” he said.

Earlier after the incident, while the police were on the look out for Malaka Silva, he had turned up at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya on Tuesday to pay homage to the Kapilavasthu relics. A large number of police personnel were present there, but Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said they were not aware that Malaka Silva was on the wanted list.

These developments came as the Army yesterday appointed a court of inquiry to ascertain whether the major was on an official assignment.

“We have started an internal investigation to ascertain the reason for his presence at that location. If he was on duty, did he inform the relevant authorities and make the necessary log entries before his departure, Acting Army Spokesman G.V. Ravipriya said.One of the allegations being probed is that the major had been escorting a businessman in his private capacity to the night club, the Sunday Times learns,

A corporal who was with the Major had also been assaulted.

The Ministerial Security Division is also carrying out a separate investigation to find out whether any of its personnel was involved in the incident or present in the area.

“We have not provided bodyguards for Malaka Silva, but only for Minister (Mervyn Silva). We are not sure if they had been used. We are checking,” said Senior Deputy Inspector General S.M. Wickremasinha who is in charge of the Presidential Security Division and the MSD.

He said that he would watch the video footage taken from the security cameras.

There have been at least three previous cases involving Malaka Silva. In 2004 he was accused of running amok and destroying property at a night club.

In 2006 he and his bodyguards pleaded guilty in a case where they were charged with attacking police narcotics bureau officials and were ordered to pay compensation.

The following year, he was accused of assaulting a chartered accountant at a Colombo restaurant.

Meanwhile Minister Mervyn Silva at a news conference on Friday defended his son.

"My son might have assaulted another man in a youthful brawl, but never an officer from the Army. These things happen among the young. They happened even at my age,” Mr. Silva said.