Sports Minister Harin Fernando whose big mouth has made him a despised character in his dealings with the Media, met his match in a television talk show on Monday night as he was warned against threatening the programme’s presenters.
“Don’t threaten us with pointed fingers, we are not afraid to face you, just answer the questions,” talk show host on Hiru TV Chamuditha Samarawickrema told Fernando.
Minister Fernando was accused by the outspoken Samarawickrema of making public statements on a previous occasion by saying Sri Lanka was a part of India.
But Fernando while denying he made statements detrimental to the sovereign integrity of Sri Lanka said his words were taken out of context.
“I said Sri Lanka is a part of India in order to welcome their tourists and make them feel at home,” said Fernando who is also the Minister of Tourism.
He rubbished Samarawickrema’s accusation that they were threatened in the course of the questioning.
To cool down Minister Fernando took in some gulps of water from a glass but outside he faced more fire when a group of civil activists took him on in a Petition they attempted to submit to the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
Police attempted to hold back the protesters who eventually tore up the protest letter after the Indian High Commission refused to accept it.
