Former Minister Harin Fernando, who was under the spotlight last week following a video clip on social media that showed him engaged in an altercation at a club in Colombo during a music concert, has said that he is now a private citizen and has the right to enjoy life as an ordinary citizen since he is no longer a minister or even an MP.

The video clip of Fernando being pushed into a building while he continued to shout at some person or persons in harsh language went viral on social media last Monday (30 December 2024). While there were many posts on social media criticising his behaviour in public, Fernando spoke to several online media outlets to explain the incident.

The former Minister told the media that he was out enjoying himself with a group of friends when they had received a call from another group of friends asking them to come for the music concert, which had been in close proximity to where he and his friends were. 

However, he noted that once he had arrived at the concert venue, some individuals had shouted at him in filth, asking him to leave the premises. 

“I retaliated, but my friends took me out of the premises. The video shows me being taken out by my friends while I shouted back at the people who had shouted at me in the same language they used on me,” Fernando told the media.

“I have a habit of not walking away when I’m being insulted for no reason. That’s my nature. Even as a schoolboy I have never walked away in such instances. I was shouted at for no reason and I responded in the same manner,” the former Minister added.