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Sunny Side Up: Fonseka tries to pull Harin’s sarong

07 May 2022

A heated exchange of words took place between Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs Sarath Fonseka and Harin Fernando amidst the SJB’s May Day rally in Colombo last Sunday (1). Video footage of the verbal clash and Fernando’s attempt to strike back while MP Manusha Nanayakkara intervened to settle the situation went viral last week. It is learnt that Fonseka had tried to tug at Fernando’s sarong during the clash as well. However, the full details behind the reason for the clash were not fully known until quite later. It is learnt that the clash was due to the list of speakers and the order of speeches at the event. Fonseka had summoned Fernando during the rally and tried to pull the list of speakers in his (Fernando’s) hand, saying he (Fonseka) wanted to have a look at it. “Why do you need it?” Fernando had questioned. Fonseka had somehow pulled the list from Fernando’s hand and asked, “Who made this list? I hold the second post in the party and according to protocol I have to speak before the Party Leader,” Fonseka had claimed. According to the list, the speech prior to Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa had been allocated to Fernando, who was to speak after Fonseka. Once again when Fonseka had asked who had made the speakers’ list, Fernando had pointed to Premadasa. “Put my name before Sajith or else I will not speak today,” Fonseka had claimed. “Who do you think you are to give me orders? You are not a boss to me,” Fernando had responded, and both MPs had traded insults at each other when MP Nanayakkara, seeing the intensifying situation, had intervened to settle the situation and asked Fernando to leave. It is at this point that Fonseka had tried to pull Fernando’s sarong, at which point Fernando had also turned towards Fonseka ready to respond with his fist. However, once again Nanayakkara had intervened and managed to stop Fonseka and pushed Fernando as well. Finally, Fernando had been asked by Premadasa to address the rally when the entire crowd had made their way to the rally. However, Premadasa had also directed that MP Harsha de Silva be allocated the slot after Fonseka and that he (Premadasa) would address the crowd after de Silva. It is learnt that Fonseka had been displeased that de Silva had spoken after him and before Premadasa. During Fernando’s speech, he claimed: “We are not afraid of old thugs,” while looking at Fonseka, and Fonseka in response claimed: “I will not show any leniency when I become Defence Minister to ministers and MPs who get themselves admitted to hospital in fear of going before the CID.” Meanwhile, Fonseka on Monday (2) complained to the party leadership against Fernando.


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