Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva has said that he has decided to step down from the Kelaniya Electorate Organizer position upon a request made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

Speaking at a meeting in Sri Lanka Freedom Party office in Kiribathgoda, the Minister had said therefore he would temporarily resign from his position as the organizer. The ruling party has already appointed Shalitha Wijesundara as the new Electorate Organizer of Kelaniya, replacing Mervyn Silva.

The decision has been made in a context where it was widely rumoured that Silva was preparing to cross over to the opposition ahead of the presidential election. However, when asked about this by a journalist, the Minister responded to the reporter in filth, saying he he had no business with Maithripala. 

The large majority of PS members of Kelaniya, including its Chairman Prasanna Ranaweera, repeatedly requested the President to remove Minister Mervyn Silva from his position as the Kelaniya Electorate Organizer. 

Meanwhile, Mervyn Silva had sternly remarked that he would refrain from speaking at any political rallies during the Presidential Election. it is also learnt that the ruling party's election campaign in kelaniya is now in total disarray due to the Minister's absence. 

Silva had also added that Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa asked him to work in collaboration with Sisira Jayakody and Kelaniya PS Chairman Prasanna Ranaweera, but he turned down the request.