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| Sunday, 14 March 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Freedom Alliance Victory Opportunity for LTTE to deal with stable govt. Excerpts of the interview by DEEPAL WARNAKULASURIYA
Question: You were Opposition Leader in the last Parliament. Any chance of your being the Prime Minister in the next Parliament? Answer: Our effort is to defeat the UNF at the Elections and make the people's wish for a corrupt free regime a reality. We work in the public interest and we will never allow portfolios to block the way. Who will be the next Prime Minister, will be decided by the President and it is too early to comment. However, I am sure that I will receive a place in the highest echelons of the next regime. Question: The JVP performance as the controlling political party in the Tissamaharama Pradeshiya Sabha has won wide acclaim. Is this not a plus factor for the Alliance now that the JVP is aligned to the SLFP? Answer: The JVP joining the SLFP has made us very confident to win the elections. At the same time, the people whose woes were not redressed by the UNF government are also flocking around us. This election is on the people's request. The last two years were full of problems in every sector of the country and the working people were in a state of unrest. Therefore, the JVP's acclaim, and people's great necessity will guide the Freedom Alliance to victory at the elections on April 02. Further, I would like to say that the UNF would receive only one seat from Hambantota and all other seats will be secured by the Alliance. We the PA and JVP received 52,000 votes more than the UNF at the last election in Hambantota district in 2002. Question: Do you think the JVP will erode the power base of the Rajapaksa's in Hambantota district? Answer: No, I never think so. Question: The UPFA is acknowledged to be ahead of the UNF especially in the South. Any particular reason for this? Answer: So many reasons. The public had to put up with unbearable burdens. The cost of living was so high and they were reduced to planning only for the next day to survive. They were fed up with unrealistic promises of politicians. The younger generation was in a state of unrest and unemployment was a burning problem. The much talked of "so called peace" had brought nothing for the people in the South. Peace is accepted and the effort should be appreciated. But, a separate regime in the country or assassinating Intelligence Unit members and informants in Colombo under the ceasefire is not a real peace. What else? All these reasons made the public to call for a government under the Freedom Alliance. It was the general public who asked for this election to send the UNF home. Question: How do you assess the impact of the JHU having entered the electoral process? Answer: I don't like to comment on the Maha Sangha's entry to the political field. But, I would say, ours is a democratic country and every citizen has a right to engage in politics. Question: The UNF is poohpooing the UPFA pledge to provide employment opportunities to some 60,000 youth within three months. Is this going to be another election pledge limited to words only. The public are wary about the credibility of election pledges. Answer: The PA regime was capable of providing employment opportunities for more than 38,000 within 3 months in 1994. We kept our word there and even this time we guarantee making over 30,000 opportunities for graduates and 25,000 opportunities for those who succeeded in GCE O/Ls and A/Ls. President Chandrika Kumaratunga gave that promise with a firm determination to face the challenge. Vacancies in the public sector, provincial councils and a number of institutes will be filled assuring a satisfied service for the general public. Question: How do you meet the UNF argument that war will break out if the UPFA is elected to power? Answer: The LTTE leadership has already announced that they would be talking with any stable government. They would prefer to talk with a government in which the Executive and Legislative power are in the heads of one party. We will be providing that opportunity. I am sure that the people of this country are intelligent enough to understand that creating a war phobia was the UNF's last card to win the election. Question: What measures have you taken to ensure a violence free campaign in Hambantota district? Answer: I have instructed our party supporters not to engage in any violent activities. We, the Alliance has pledged a free and fair election. I think even the UNF will assist the process. However, Police will have to play a big role as I know that thugs from Colombo were ready to march to the South and alter the results at the election. I will be discussing with the relevant officials and taking steps to prevent such incidents. Question: The Prime Minister often spoke of a safety net provided by the international community. They have already condemned the LTTE for the elimination of UNP candidates. However, the TNA pledges support to the UNP. Do you see a contradiction in this position advantageous to the UPFA? Answer: The people are with us. They will bring us a clear victory and we will not be waiting for the TNA's assistance. The LTTE's brutal assassination of the Batticaloa district UNF candidate raises a question, as the LTTE has pledged its support to the UNF through the TNA. The intelligent people of this country will give their verdict over the issue on April 2 and there is no need to waste our time to define the Prime Minister's safety net. Question: What is your message to the voters? Answer: We are now stronger than in the past. We have learnt lessons and experienced much. We will be tackling your problems including the country's major problem. Don't get misled by our rivals' talk that we (SLFP-JVP) do not have a common approach to the national problem. We have compromised to work out a better solution to the problem. |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Mahinda Rajapakse entered the political arena in 1968 as the SLFP
Organiser for Beliatta electorate on the death of his father D. A.
Rajapaksha. Youngest MP in 1970, Minister of Labour and Vocational
Training and later Fisheries Minister in the Governments of President
Chandrika Kumaratunga, he was Opposition Leader in the last Parliament. In
this Interview with `Sunday Observer' Mahinda Rajapaksha emphasises that
this election was called for by the people and it gives the opportunity to
the LTTE to deal with a stable government after April 02.
