Two Sri Lankan ministers sacked over defection
The Peninsula
Colombo: Two government ministers who defected from Sri Lanka s main opposition were sacked from the cabinet Friday, after the Supreme Court upheld di...
Colombo: Two government ministers who defected from Sri Lanka's main opposition were sacked from the cabinet Friday, after the Supreme Court upheld disciplinary action against them.
The decision came ahead of presidential elections next month, the first vote since the unprecedented economic crisis of 2022, when months of protests toppled then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The pair, tourism minister Harin Fernando and labour minister Manusha Nanayakkara, had switched sides to back President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is readying for the September 21 vote.
The ministers' former party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), suspended their membership, which the court on Friday upheld -- requiring the duo to quit the parliament and cabinet in a setback for Wickremesinghe.
"I accept the decision of the court," Fernando told reporters after the decision. "I am glad I had the opportunity to work for the people."
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