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Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando addressing the media along with Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara yesterday in Colombo – Pic by Ruwan Walpola
By Charumini de Silva
Sticking to the sheer conscious decision of conquering the worst economic crisis, the new Cabinet Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara yesterday pledged that they were ready to ride on a ‘political suicide mission’ for the sake of all Sri Lankans.
“We have arrived at a hard default, this is not the time to be thinking of politics — but the country,” Ministers’ Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara told journalists at a joint briefing held soon after swearing in as new multi-party Cabinet yesterday.
New Tourism and Land Minister Fernando affirmed his conscious decision was to establish a non-partisan Government to navigate the country out of the worst economic storm.
“This is an attempt to create a non-partisan Government. We both decided to be independent because no one in our party was willing to take that step for the people suffering in the country. Our stance of GotaGoHome has not changed a bit. However, we need to understand the gravity of the economic, social, and political crisis we are in today — not from a political viewpoint, but a true patriotic perspective,” he stressed.
Both Ministers noted that they took up these portfolios because tourism and foreign employment are two key sectors that can generate foreign exchange to turnaround the economy.
“My stand on ‘sir fail’ and ‘saapaya’ remains unaffected. We both agreed to take up the position only after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed on the seven-point conditions put forward. Our revolution to eliminate President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as per the Constitution is unmoved,” he affirmed.
Fernando asserted that he did not take on the post of Minister due to Premier Wickremesinghe, adding that he is one individual who criticised the Premier the most.
The Minister said he was disgusted to have accepted his letter of appointment from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, adding his disgust towards the state of the country is ‘far greater’.
Fernando also said President Rajapaksa is now a mere namesake official and has already been rejected by the people.
Relating the surreal feeling of having to deal with the person he criticised the most, Tourism Minister said: “It is like putting your hand deliberately into the dragon’s mouth,” he added.
Minister Fernando said he believes the President will step down after the country reaches stability.
Despite SJB announcing of taking disciplinary action against his decision, Fernando said he was happy and not disheartened, as he has not left the party yet.
“I love SJB, the party I built from its logo to organising the last May Day march from Kandy to Colombo. SJB and the party leader Sajith Premadasa are both unstained. Although Manusha and I tried for five-days to convince the party leadership and its senior members that we should take the collective decision to accept the challenge, they did not. We both suggested to nominate some members from SJB not necessarily us, but they delayed the crucial decision,” he explained.
Minister Fernando said he is not of the stance that the Prime Minister should be obstructed from working towards uplifting the country.
“I commend Premier Wickremesinghe’s decision to accept the post amidst the ongoing crisis. Had Wickremesinghe not accepted the post of Prime Minister, the country would now be in an unimaginable situation,” he added.
Fernando reiterated that he is still representing the SJB in the non-partisan Government and never betrayed his party.
Citing that a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, the Minister called on top-notch SJB MPs Dr. Harsha de Silva, General Sarath Fonseka, Eran Wickremeratne and Kabir Hashim also to join hands in the need of the hour.
“To overcome the economic storm, we need to be smart to identify the good captain. Narrow minded people can call it deal-politics and continue to sling mud at me. I was never scared of mudslingers because even if I do not have a party or a seat in Parliament, I’ve still got a home to go to,” Fernando said.
Minister Nanayakkara said although their opinion was well accepted by the majority of the SJB MPs, the leadership was not ready to take up the challenge.
“All MPs are elected to the Parliament to serve the public. At a time when people are dying in long queues for fuel, children suffering with no medication — how insensitive one can be to strategise on the next election to gain majority power or to become the next President?” he argued.
The Minister also said that none of the parties that claim of supporting non-partisan Government in reality is limited merely to words.
“As two young MPs, Harin and I always revealed the scams and conspiracies. We share the same ideology of all Sri Lankans that are engaged in the peaceful revolution at Galle Face, the Mahanayake Theros, other religious leaders and Bar Association of Sri Lanka. Our effort is not to look at a re-election strategy, but to bring about the change within the system before too long,” he emphasised.
Fernando and Nanayakkara said: “We are ready to wear the crown of thorns or be the billy boys that can bring about the change to ensure Sri Lanka remain the pearl of the Indian Ocean forever.”
The Minister said he will step down from his post if the Prime Minister fails to fulfil the promises. Minister Fernando added he could fail at fulfilling his duties, yet reiterated that he is not engaged in any games and is focused on bringing a sense of stability to the country.
