|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 11 April 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
PM will prove his command in Parliament - Susil Premjayanth
by DEEPAL WARNAKULASURIYA Question: What have you got to say about the election results? Answer: Though we were unable to receive the expected 113 seats in Parliament due to various reasons, we are quite satisfied with the results. However, electoralwise we have secured 106 electorates out of 160 and if not for this system we would have had a 2/3 majority in the House. Anyhow I must say that in due course we will be able to get 113 seats in Parliament with the assistance of other parties and individuals. Q:- You expected the Alliance to exceed the 1994 results in Colombo district. But the UNF gained a seat more than the Alliance this time although the PA was ahead of the UNP in 1994. Any comments? A: Yes. I think the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) intervention caused this. If the JHU was not in the election fray we would have even secured Colombo district. However, almost all the remote areas were won by the Alliance. A reasonable percentage for the JHU was seen in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts. Q: The UNF was beaten by the suffering masses who were wilting under the high cost of living, unemployment and the like. What immediate measurers will be taken to redress this situation? A: UNF's main campaign slogan was the peace process. However the so called `peace dividends' and the UNF's policies were totally rejected within two years by the masses at this election. We, the UPFA mainly focused on finding solutions to the rising cost of living, the unemployment problem and eradication of bribery and corruption at the same time labouring to keep law and order and peace in the country with economic development given priority. The President in her latest address to the nation pledged that the UPFA's priority task will be the resumption of talks with the LTTE and other concerned parties. Further, we will make arrangements to give the promised relief to the people within a couple of months. The woes of the farming community, fisheries community, working class will be redressed immediately creating employment opportunities both in public and private sector. We will also be taking action to solve the unemployed graduates problem soon. Q: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has to command a majority support in Parliament. As General Secretary of the UPFA how do you foresee this possibility? A: I am sure that the Prime Minister will accept that challenge and he will prove in Parliament that he is in command in Parliament. Being a courageous politician with patience he has already proven that he is fit for any challenge. I also believe that he will be assisted by various groups in the House to carry on in his post. Q: What action will be taken to pursue the peace process? A: The peace process will be handled by President Chandrika Kumaratunga recognising the areas which need to be attended initially. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are undoubtedly ready to assist the President in the process. The new government has plans to implement negotiations with the LTTE and other relevant parties as soon as possible. When the President took over three ministries from the UNF government last November, they asked the President to take the initiatives in the peace process. Now, the President is ready to take up the challenge and she is capable of tackling the problem. Q: You are known to have advocated non-violent politics. How did you manage to achieve this at the recently concluded elections? A: Well, I have never engaged in any kind of political violence throughout my political career for over 14 years. I have not allowed my supporters to engage in any violent activities. This was accepted by party supporters as well as party members. The same reason helped me to be in the political arena totally rejecting violence. Q: What chances are there to change the Constitution through a Constituent Assembly process? A: We will go ahead converting Parliament to a Constituent Assembly as we have pledged to the people in our manifesto. I am sure that the process will begin within three months time. The necessary amendments will be introduced to the Constitution paving the way to abolish the Executive Presidency and change the present electoral system. The majority in the country are of the view that the electoral system should be changed after this election. I believe that even the Opposition (the UNF) will help in the process as they wanted to bring electoral reforms. A select committee had also been appointed for the purpose. I am confident that any obstacle to the process will be halted by the people. At a referendum over the issue, they will give their consent for the CA proposal. Q: What do you attribute to the clean sweep at the polls? Still you have a minority government. Is this due to the PR system? What are your views? A: Yes. That is mainly due to the electoral system. If we had the First-Past-the Post system we would have a 2/3 majority in Parliament. Even in the Colombo district under the above system we would have nine seats while the UNF would receive only six. But the PR system has changed the final result. Q: The prophets of doom say the Alliance government will not last long. Any comments. A: It shows the attitude of some politicians who scream only for power. So once a party is defeated, they should discuss the reasons for their defeat without waiting for the fall of the present government. If someone tries to do that I don't think they are suitable to rule a country. However, here the most important factor is working as a minority government since it is a challenge. The same challenge would help us to win more people over and its results could be seen at the next election. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Cabinet Minister, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premaayanth is known to
keep his cool even at the height of hot debate. He discusses the current
political scenario in his characteristic calm and collected style in this
exclusive interview for Sunday Observer.
