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President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga interviewed by Sunday Observer Editor Jayatilleke de Silva dwells on the performance of her regime during 1994 - 2005 barring the period of the UNF Government from December 2001 to April 2004. Ending the fear psychosis that had gripped the entire people, she considers, the single biggest achievement of her reign.

Q: Madam President, what in your opinion is the most significant achievement of your tenure of office?

A: I assumed the office of President at a time when the Seventeen-year old UNP regime had brought the country to the verge of anarchy. Law and order had broken down. "Black Cats", "Green Tigers" and all types of armed groups were sowing terror. Human rights continued to be violated on a big scale. The entire people were in the grip of a fear psychosis. Dissent was not tolerated. Democracy was virtually non-existent.

With my election victory I ensured that there would not be any post-election violence. Law and order was restored. Democratic norms governance were re-established. There were no more midnight knocks on the door. Mothers and wives could have a sigh of relief that their sons and husbands would return home safe after work or study. Human rights were respected once again.

Besides I appointed three Presidential Commissions of Inquiry to investigate the involuntary disappearance of persons during the previous regime. These Commissions submitted their reports and follow up action was taken to pay compensation to the victims and take legal action against the culprits.

In short, we were able to install a system of caring, humane and democratic governance.

Q: Could you elaborate on the legal and institutional mechanisms that were introduced to realise the concept of caring humane democratic governance?

A: Conscious of the practice of torture that had taken place during the previous regime an Act cited as the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was brought to Parliament in November 1994 and approved. Under this Act torture was made a punishable offence. Further awareness programs on human rights and international humanitarian law were conducted for law enforcement officers, including the security forces.

We also instituted a Human Rights Commission with branches islandwide including the North and East. We also amended the Penal Code to introduce more deterrent punishment for grave crimes like drug trafficking and rape. Special mention must be made of the Prohibition of Ragging and other forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act passed in 1998, which had a salutary effect on the reduction of the incidence of ragging.

A: Special Task Force was formed to study and report on child abuse and its prevention. The recommendations of the Task Force led to the enacting of the National Child Protection Authority Act.

This legislation and the setting up of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has been hailed throughout the South Asia region as a pioneering venture and has even received accolades from the UN system. Special Women and Children's Desks have been instituted at all Police stations with specially trained personnel to handle them.

Wide-ranging education reforms have been carried out these reforms, which began at the primary education stage, have now progressed into the Secondary and tertiary education stages.

The Samurdhi Movement has been established and developed to raise the income levels of those sections of the population living below the poverty line. It aims to lift them out of the shackles of poverty and bondage through their participation in productive enterprises instead of perpetuating their destitute conditions by relief measures alone.

Q: Madam President, You say yours was a caring Government. As you know there are thousands of members of the armed forces who lost their life and limb during the war in the North and East. What measures were you able to put in place to care for these war heroes?

A: A special unit was established at the Presidential Secretariat to coordinate psychosocial support systems for Service and Police personnel and their dependents.

Its objectives were (1) to provide psychosocial support to service personnel to cope with disability and dysfunction (2) to provide emotional assistance to the dependents during grief or injury, (3) to establish psychological support services in central, provincial, district and divisional levels and (4) to facilitate administrative procedures related to those killed, injured and missing in action (i.e. medical and other social security aspects) Later the Ranaviru Seva Authority was established and in 2001 we were able to open at Malpitiya, Kandy the National Remembrance Park to commemorate War Heroes.

Many welfare programs including scholarships to children of war heroes and the donation of houses to their families have been implemented. June 07 has been declared the Ranaviru Day to commemorate them annually.

Q: Could you elaborate some more on facilities made available to women and children for their protection and development?

A: In addition to the already mentioned National Child Protection Authority Act Sri Lanka has strengthened the legal framework to protect women and children. Prevention of Domestic Violence Act in 2005 was one such measure. Besides we have amended the law to provide extra maternity leave for mothers at childbirth.

The Civil Aspect of International Child Abduction Act also provides safeguards against trafficking in children by paedophiles. Punishments for abuse of women and children have been enhanced as a deterrent. Much has been done in the way of educating women so that they are more empowered today.

In the sphere of education we have completely done away with gender discrimination. As a result more and more women are entering higher levels of administration and management both in the state and private sector.

Special programs to assist single parent families with women householders are being implemented especially for victims of war and other internally displaced persons.

Besides the development of social infrastructure such as education and health have alleviated many hardships that women and children faced earlier.

Q: In what sense could you say democracy was advanced during your regime?

A: As I mentioned earlier I have eliminated state terrorism that reigned during the previous regimes. Freedom of expression, freedom of association and other individual freedoms were restored. Above everything else I restored the right to life, a right that was not guaranteed by J. R. Jayewardene's 1978 Constitution.

You would have noted that the media was free even to run libellous material against the Head of State. The number of electronic and print media establishments proliferated during my regime.

This was in stark contrast to the situation that prevailed earlier. Trade Unions could agitate and win their demands in contrast to what happened in 1980 when they were dismissed en masse for striking. Provincial and Local Government bodies could function without hindrances unlike in the Period of Terror when a note sent by a brat could bring the whole country to a virtual standstill.

As you would remember I brought in a new draft Constitution that devolved power to the periphery in a substantial degree guaranteeing the rights of all communities. Unfortunately the UNP sabotaged it in Parliament.

(Continued next week)

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