The day-to-day operations of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs are due to be overseen by its Secretary K. Mahesan in the aftermath of the resignation of subject Minister Harin Fernando last Friday (9), a source from the ministry confirmed to The Sunday Morning Sports.

He said that until President Ranil Wickremesinghe issues a gazette notification to take the ministry under his purview or to assign the Sports Ministry to another minister or even to the current State Minister, its work would be handled by the Ministry Secretary. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohana Dissanayake is the current State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs.

Fernando, who also held the Cabinet portfolios of Tourism and Lands, was forced to step down as the Supreme Court (SC) deemed that the decision taken by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to expel him from the party membership 12 months ago was legal.

The apex court had issued this verdict while rejecting a petition filed by the Minister concerned, seeking an order declaring that the SJB’s decision to suspend his party membership was illegal.

Accordingly, Fernando stands disqualified from functioning as a lawmaker in the current Parliament with effect from 9 August as per the SC ruling. 

(JK)