The Rs. 153 Million Mystery: How Did Mervin Silva Become a Millionaire on a Minister’s Salary?

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has dropped a political bombshell, filing indictments against former Labour and Public Relations Minister Mervin Silva. The charges? Accumulating unexplained assets worth Rs. 153,000,000 during his time in office—an amount far exceeding any legitimate ministerial earnings.

Filed under Section 23(1)(a) of the Bribery Act, the indictment accuses Silva of acquiring wealth through unlawful means. It’s a dramatic fall for a man who once wielded both media power and political influence with impunity.

Follow the Money: The Three Key Asset Deals Under the Scanner

The Bribery Commission’s case focuses on three major transactions that, according to their investigation, Silva cannot justify:

The purchase of a plot of land in Colombo 7 valued at Rs. 70,000,000.

The acquisition of a residential property in Dalupitiya, Kadawatha worth over Rs. 30,000,000.

The purchase of a luxury vehicle for his son, Malaka Silva, valued in the tens of millions of rupees.

Each transaction raises the same question: how could a public servant afford such high-end assets?

From Political Strongman to Criminal Defendant

Mervin Silva is no stranger to controversy. Over the years, he’s made headlines for tying a government official to a tree, physically storming state media offices, and threatening journalists on live television. Despite public outcry and repeated criticism from media watchdogs, he remained a fixture in Sri Lankan politics for decades.

But now, it's the courts—not the press—that are spotlighting his actions.

Malaka Silva and the Luxury Jeep: A Gift with Strings?

One detail turning heads is the luxury vehicle allegedly bought for Silva’s son, Malaka Silva, whose name frequently surfaced in Colombo's nightlife and underworld gossip columns. The vehicle is valued in multiple tens of millions of rupees—yet another unexplained expense on the former minister’s books.

While Malaka has not been officially charged, CIABOC has hinted that family asset trails may be part of ongoing investigations.

Political Persecution or Long-Overdue Accountability?

Mervin Silva has previously dismissed such investigations as politically driven smear campaigns. But analysts say the financial trail in this case is “robust and traceable.”

If proven, the charges could lead to:

Confiscation of properties and vehicles

Heavy fines

Possible imprisonment

Legal experts view this as one of the most substantial cases of financial misconduct ever brought against a former Cabinet minister in recent history.

What Lies Ahead for Mervin Silva?

He is now scheduled to appear before the High Court, where the charges will be tested in full view of the public and the press. The outcome of the case could signal whether Sri Lanka is serious about cracking down on corruption—or simply using political scapegoats for short-term headlines.