Jan 11, Colombo: Controversial Sri Lankan Minister of Public Relations, Mervyn Silva has handed over his letter of resignation from the post of chief organizer of Kelaniya electorate to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa today.

The President has accepted the Minister's resignation the Government Information Department reported.

Minister Silva came under pressure to resign from the post following the arrest of two of his coordinating secretaries for the murder of ruling party Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha councilor Haisth Madawala last week.

Media reports said the SLFP has decided to remove Minister Silva from the post of electoral organizer until the investigations into the councilor's murder is finished.

The party has reportedly decided to appoint Gampaha district organizer Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa as the electoral organizer of Kelaniya.