|
|
|
| Sunday, 23 October 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Grain banks in all villages : Hettigoda to the Vanni by Ananda Kannangara
Presidential candidate Victor Hettigoda de Silva Wijedasa, who is contesting under the Eksath Lanka Podujana Party (ELJPP), at the forthcoming Presidential Election told the Sunday Observer that he was confident of his victory and assured that more than 62 per cent would vote for him. Below are excerpts of the interview: Question: On what grounds do you say that 62 per cent people will vote for you, especially ignoring the other two main candidates who are engaged in active politics even at the present moment? Can you elaborate on this. Answer: The two major political parties ruled the country from time to time since independence in 1948. But no significant improvement in the security and the economic situation could be seen during the past 57 years. Therefore, those who are disgusted with politics will refrain from voting, or waiting to elect a new leader. I am confident that they would vote in my favour considering the unprecedented social work done by me for the people, especially in the villages during the last several years. Q: How do you say that the two major parties had shirked their responsibilities during the past 57 years ? A: Both parties secured power by making false pledges which could not fulfilled, and 'they' after coming to power completely forget the masses. We are well aware that if these two parties had done something good for the country, how did the country had plunged into a pathetic position in which we are in today. Q: What are the major problems the country faces today ? A: Due to lack of development in the agricultural and the industrial sector, the unemployment problem and the cost of living has shot up. Although the Ceasefire Agreement was signed with the LTTE the two decade old war is still on. Innocent people including the members of the armed forces were being killed almost everyday. It is pity our politicians keep mum over these issues and under these circumstances it is madness to elect such politicians to the highest office again. Q: You said the two decade old war is still on and what are your proposals to solve the ethnic problem ? A: This is a major problem. I cant elaborate my proposals right now unless and until I become the President. However, I must tell you that getting the country's economy and other plans onto the right track depends on with the progress in the war situation. We know that our politicians take up and talk about this issue to grab power. These brave politicians must at least pay a visit to Wanni and speak to the LTTE leadership regarding this matter without a third party mediation. Q: Will you visit Vanni and meet the LTTE leadership if elected to power ? A: Definitely, I will personally go to Vanni without foreign or any other mediator and talk to the LTTE as well as the young soldiers on both sides. Not only that, I would invite the LTTE also to become members of my Cabinet. Q: When do you hope to visit Vanni ? A: Yes, I would like to inform you that during my election campaign I would visit Vanni before the end of this month. Q: What do you say about our Parliamentary system ? A: There are 19 million people in our country. Therefore we must not have such a large number of 225 members in Parliament and a huge Cabinet of 80. If I am elected, I propose a Cabinet of 30 representing all the political parties including the LTTE. As you know in the neighbouring India the population is nearly 120 million, but there are only 545 members in the Lok Sabha. Q: How do you develop the agricultural sector? A: Farmers are in a state of deep despair. They are committing suicide and many abandoning their traditional occupation as they cannot sell their harvest at a fair price. Most of them are in debt. At present they cannot sell paddy even for Rs. 10 a kilo. Therefore, I plan to set up grain banks in each village to promote the agricultural sector. Farmers can obtain loans at low interest rates from these banks and also sell their agricultural products to these banks. Q: Why don't you spend much on your election campaign like other candidates ? A: Pasting posters, putting up banners or cutouts with polythene decorations and conducting musical shows are not my style. These are habits of other candidates who are politically bankrupt. Why do they have to waste such enormous sums of money to promote themselves ? |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
