Opposition Leader of the Uva Provincial Council Harin Fernando was prevented from taking part in the "Balaya" political talk show on Hiru TV due to objections raised by the government. 

The ruling party had informed the TV channel that it would send only a provincial member to represent the government if Fernando was representing the main opposition party. The objection had been raised on the grounds that Fernando, a former Parliamentarian, was a only a member of a provincial council. 

Therefore, the TV channel was compelled to prevent Harin from appearing on the show, at the last moment. Instead of the provincial councilor, UNP Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne was invited for the programme and the ruling party sent UPFA Shantha Bandara to counter Wickramaratne. 

The media bosses of the governmenthad informed the channel in no uncertain terms that no ruling party parliamentarian would be sent to take part in TV shows where Fernando represents the opposition.

Fernando was a firebrand Parliamentarian of the opposition and was a frequent participant of political talks shows over the past few years. A heated verbal battle between Fernando and North Western Province Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera ended up in fisticuffs during a political talk show on Derana TV, a few months ago.