Former UNP Parliamentarian and Opposition Leader of the Uva Provincial Council Harin Fernando said there was a conspiracy to leave him out of political programmes on television ahead of the upcoming present election.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena and UPFA Parliamentarian Ramesh Pathirana yesterday refused to engage In a debate with Fernando on the "waada pitiya" political talk show yesterday, on the grounds that Fernando was a Provincial Councilor. 

Gunawardena asserted that Cabinet ministers should not be invited to engage with debates with members of provincial councils. Due to objections raised by Gunawardena, Derana had to abandon the programme at the last moment as there was no other alternative. 

Last week too, Fernando faced a similar problem when Hiru TV had to change their list of guests for the 'Balaya' programme at the last moment as the representatives of the government refused to attend the show on the grounds that Fernando was a provincial councilor. 

" I am the one who posed the biggest challenge to the government in the recent past and the results of the Uva PC election was a major setback for the government. That is exactly why they are trying to avoid me on TV shows citing various reasons. This shows nothing but the bankruptcy on the part of the ministers of the government, " Fernando told Asian Mirror last night. 

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena was not available to comment.