Harin clarifies confusion regarding resignation

• Resigned from post of Minister of Digital Infrastructure to make way for colleague on 26 December
• Appointment was granted by President on 21 December sans ceremony

Harin Fernando resigned from the post of Minister for Digital Infrastructure, effective from 26 December. Fernando was appointed as the Minister of Telecommunications, Digital Infrastructure, Sports and Foreign Employment on 21 December. 

However, the Minister clarified to Daily FT that on the same day (26 December), the non-Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers and State Ministers were appointed, the President had handed over the new letter of appointment, appointing Fernando as the Minister for Telecommunications, Sports and Foreign Employment, and Ajith Perera was instead appointed as the non-Cabinet Minister of Digital Infrastructure. 

Fernando took oaths again as the Minister of Telecommunications, Sports and Foreign Employment on 26 December, post resignation from the post of Minister for Digital Infrastructure. 

There was confusion about the resignation after the Gazette was published on 26 December. Clarifying the matter, Harin Fernando told Daily FT that he let go of the post of Minister of Digital infrastructure to accommodate a colleague for the post. Fernando also took to Facebook to clarify the matter further.

“I let go of one of my Ministries which was digital infrastructure. This was done to accommodate a non-Cabinet Ministry for my colleague. Since there was so much interest in this topic, I thought I’d clear the matter myself. I currently hold the portfolios of Telecom, Sports and Foreign Employment,” he stated on his Facebook profile.