[2] He is considered a leader of the Rajapaksa loyalist mobs that carried out violent attacks against peaceful protestors during the 9 May 'Black Monday' incident of the 2022 Sri Lankan Protests.

Johnston Fernando was arrested on 5 May 2015 in relation to the non-payment for goods worth more than 5 million rupees but was released on bail amounting to Rs.

[4] In January 2022 Johnston Fernando was acquitted from three cases filed against him by the bribery commission of Sri Lanka for allegedly employing CWE employees in electoral activities costing the state Rs.

[9] Johnston Fernando encouraged violence against critics and peaceful protestors during the 2022 Sri Lankan Protests claiming "The problem is that the government is too lenient.

On 9 May Johnston and Mahinda Rajapaksa armed and incited loyalists to launch a violent against peaceful protestors that had occupied Temple Trees and Galle Face.

[11][12][13] Sri Lanka’s Attorney General on 16 May directed the Police to arrest Johnston Fernando and 21 others and to produce them in court 22 for the attacks on the peaceful protestors on 9 May 2022.