Harin and Manusha speak out after SC ruling

• Say took up posts for country not for self 
• SC declares decision taken by SJB to strip Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara of membership as lawful 
• Says party decision was in line with SJB constitution and finds no reason to intervene in an internal party matter
• Harin Fernando steps down from post claiming Fernando it was an apt moment as he has proven his effectiveness 
• Says he decided to join Govt. as Sajith Premadasa failed to take up challenge

Former Minister Harin Fernando

Former Minister Manusha Nanayakakara

Manusha Nanayakkara says duo have no regrets in decision to join Govt. while highlighting their efforts to bring in foreign exchange 

Former Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakakara stepped down from their Minister positions yesterday after the Supreme Court declared that the decision taken by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to suspend their party memberships was lawful. They will also lose their Parliamentary seats as a result of the judgement. 

The court yesterday dismissed the petitions filed by the duo challenging the SJB’s decision to revoke their party membership. The SJB had expelled them after they defied the party’s decision not to accept ministerial positions in a Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Fernando was appointed as the Minister of Tourism and Lands at the time while Nanayakkara was appointed as the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment. 

The Court ruled that it could not grant the relief sought by the petitioners and dismissed the case. It held that the revocation of the party membership was in accordance with the party’s constitution and found no reason to intervene in what it deemed an internal party matter.

Nanayakkara was elected as an MP from the Galle District on the SJB ticket, while Fernando entered Parliament through the party’s national list.

The counsels for the SJB, in their preliminary objections, informed the court that the two MPs were duly notified of the party’s decision not to accept ministerial positions and were later informed that disciplinary action would be taken against them. The counsels said that the MPs avoided the disciplinary inquiry, after which the party formally notified them of its decision to revoke their party memberships. However, Fernando and Nanayakkara argued that the party’s decision was illegal.

Addressing Ministry staff after the court ruling, Fernando said that he accepted the ministerial position not for personal gain but to serve the country. He recalled that he had to arrive in a Maruti to take up the post, as the ongoing citizens’ struggle had turned against politicians and were attacking MPs at that time.

Fernando also emphasised his role in the formation of the SJB, claiming, “I was the one who named the SJB, chose its colours and symbol. It was I who announced Sajith’s arrival and conducted the first party rally.”

Fernando emphasised that his decision to accept the ministerial post was not driven by greed. “I’ve held numerous positions before, including Chief Minister and Cabinet Minister. I didn’t have an obsession with holding office,” he said. 

Fernando said it was an apt moment to step as he has already proven his effectiveness through recent successes, such as the award won by Sri Lanka Tourism and the victories achieved by the Sri Lanka Cricket team.

He revealed that he sacrificed a potential future leadership role within the SJB to join the Government. “I believed that before I could assume any future leadership role, there had to be a country to lead. Today, Sajith Premadasa has taken away my MP seat. But while he is taking it back, I have already given something back to the country,” Fernando asserted.

During a press conference later in the day, Fernando emphasised that his decision was driven by his conscience, and he held no personal grudges against Sajith Premadasa. “The only issue was the reluctance to take on challenges due to his singular ambition of becoming President,” he remarked.

Nanayakkara added that during their tenure as Ministers, they successfully brought a significant amount of foreign exchange into Sri Lanka, contributing to the country’s economy. Nanayakkara said he has no regrets about the decision to join the Government.