Amid ongoing discussions regarding the potential merger between the United National Party (UNP) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), concerns have emerged among certain political factions about a possible conspiracy to oust Sajith Premadasa from the party leadership and install Ranil Wickremesinghe as the leader of the SJB.
These suspicions have been fueled by the unexpected participation of former minister Harin Fernando, a known close associate of Wickremesinghe, in the recent UNP-SJB peace talks held at the residence of MP Harshana Rajakaruna. Notably, Fernando was not among the representatives officially nominated by either party for these negotiations.
The UNP had designated its General Secretaries Thalatha Athukorala, Ruwan Wijewardena, and S. H. Samaratunga as representatives for the discussions. Meanwhile, the SJB had nominated its General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Harshana Rajakaruna, and Mujibur Rahuman to participate in the talks.
The initial phase of these discussions took place at a five-star hotel in Colombo, while the final meeting was held at the Colombo residence of SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna. While previous discussions included only the designated representatives from both parties, Harin Fernando’s unexpected presence at the final meeting has sparked significant controversy.
Harin Fernando was originally a member of the UNP but left to join the SJB upon its formation. He later secured a parliamentary seat through the SJB’s National List under the leadership of Sajith Premadasa. However, Fernando subsequently aligned himself with Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration, along with Manusha Nanayakkara, and secured a ministerial position within the government.
Following this political shift, Fernando launched scathing attacks against Sajith Premadasa—the very leader who facilitated his National List appointment. His criticisms extended beyond Premadasa to include the Opposition Leader’s wife and family members, drawing sharp reactions within the SJB.
Furthermore, during Wickremesinghe’s tenure over the past two years, Fernando has faced numerous allegations of corruption. Several investigations into these allegations are currently underway.
A prevailing sentiment within the SJB is that individuals accused of corruption should not be included in the party. Despite this stance, the unauthorized participation of Harin Fernando in the UNP-SJB talks has raised serious concerns within the party ranks, sparking debates about the implications of his involvement in the ongoing negotiations.
