Sri Lanka’s president has removed a deputy highway minister after he tied a government worker to a tree for failing to attend a mosquito eradication programme.
The statement on the government’s website Tuesday said President Mahinda Rajapaksa removed Mervyn Silva amid countrywide protests by government workers.
Silva tied the man to a tree last week in his electorate in Kelaniya on the outskirts of capital Colombo in an incident widely shown on television.
Labour unions and opposition politicians have strongly criticised Silva.
Silva told a news conference the worker signed a letter saying he had asked Silva to tie him to the tree. Colleagues of the man disputed that.
The worker has not been available for comment.