A recent statement made by Tourism Minister Harin Fernando about Indo-Lanka relations sparked an interesting debate in Parliament last week, with dissident Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Wimal Weerawansa on Tuesday (20) demanding to know if Fernando’s remark that Sri Lanka was a part of India was his personal opinion or the official stance of the Government.

Weerawansa had questioned in Parliament Fernando’s right to have a personal opinion about the country. Chief Government Whip Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Minister Manusha Nanayakkara had responded to Weerawansa’s allegations. The two Ministers had noted that Fernando’s statement was clearly a reference to historic ties between Sri Lanka and India. They had further alleged that a distorted version of Fernando’s statement was making rounds on social media.

Responding d to Weerawansa on Wednesday (21), Fernando had told Parliament that his statement had been taken out of context, pointing out that a minute or two from a 15-minute speech published on social media or by media stations had resulted in this. 

“I said Sri Lanka was a part of India pointing out the similarities between the two nations. I can’t sell Sri Lanka to India. What kind of an imbecile is the person who is trying to create something that is completely out of context?” he had questioned.