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We will not let 'big businessmen' live at the expense of ratepayers, warned UPFA Mayoral candidate, Vasudeva Nanayakkara. In an interview with Sunday Observer staffer, Jayantha Sri Nissanka, Vasudeva pledged to eradicate corruption and ensure people's participation in the CMC administration if he was elected Mayor.

How do you view the contest to be the next Mayor?

A: Its fairly good because the UNP is divided. The rejection of the UNP nomination list has created confusion among their ranks. Internal fights have increased accusing each other for this blunder. I am not rejoicing at their misery.

That is not my way. I wish they were there to take the battle on policies and programs. But now they are in distress.

I will of course take full advantage of this. The UNP vote during the Presidential election was divided among different lists. UNP coalition parties at this election like Mano Ganeshan and certain Muslim Parties will get their vote back.

Normally voters of UNP take a serious view at a Presidential or a General election. They usually take less interest in local polls. However, people want a change after a long period. Grievances have accumulated. I have the advantage of being the common candidate of all communities.

I am advocating a Participatory Administration. This is becoming very popular among poor sections where the UNP had a major clout. Still 52 percent of the Colombo population is living in shanties which are overcrowded and in sub-human habitations. Managing with little health and sanitation facilities, they have realised that 50 years rule of the UNP have done only little or less for them.

Q: How is the people's response towards your campaign?

A: I tell them that their responsibility is to prevent corruption before and after the election. CMC resources must be protected. Middlemen or wheeler dealers thrive on transactions of the CMC.

Now you will question me how will it not happen again. That is because the UNP cultivated these people and UNP had to payback. Therefore the CMC and public funds were misused.

However it will not happen under my administration because we owe nothing to them. We are planning to offer large scale welfare facilities for poor people like milk feeding centres, maternity facilities, dispensaries and sanitation. We have enough money for such projects. We will not let big businessmen pilfer CMC funds.

Q: But the JVP and JHU can divide your vote bank depriving you of your Mayoralty. Could it happen that way?

A: I agree that the JVP and the JHU votes polled at the Presidential election will not come in our favour this time. Except the hardcore JVPers and JHU supporters, the majority are of the opinion that the UNP should not be allowed to get the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts.

Larger periphery of JVP and JHU votes will not go along with them this time. I met a young chap last night and he told me that still he is a JVPer but this time he will not vote for the JVP because that will go against the chances of defeating the UNP.

He said this was the best opportunity we ever had after all the years to defeat the UNP. Even a liberal critical JHU voter might think twice. Therefore, damage caused to our vote bank will be minimal.

Q: But people are not much aware of the Local Authority election structure. Do you educate them at your meetings?

A: The JVP and JHU may be telling the people that after the election they will support Vasu to be the Mayor. People should understand that it will not happen that way. Mayoralty will go to the single majority party which has secured most number of members.

This may deprive the victory of the UPFA in some Councils. However, our Socialist Alliance told this to the people. People have realised it. They are now aware that if they do not vote with the UPFA means that they have voted for the UNP.

Q: How confident are you in defeating a formidable candidate like Sirisena Cooray?

A: Mr. Cooray is an able man and a seasoned politician. He knows his onions. I am not going to advertise in a big way to promote myself. But I am going to the feet of people to talk to them.

Mr.Cooray will be a formidable challenge. Humpty Dumpty after its fall broke into so many pieces but non of the kingsmen could put it back together. Today even Cooray can not put the UNP together. This is my assessment of Cooray's role. His abilities will be limited to the internal conditions of the UNP.

He was out of touch with politics for nearly 12 years. Finally Cooray will have to answer some serious charges levelled against UNP administration over garbage, canal, dirt and the muck that is affecting the city, flooding of roads after small rain, slums over the years.

What does he say to this charge sheet? Even Cooray can not reply.

Q: How will you look after tax payer?

A: Tax payers will have the benefit of speedy services of the CMC. Garbage is not a problem for us. Because we will use it as a resource. There will be zero level garbage under our administration. All garbage will go in to a reproductive process.

We have prepared plans in consultation with experts. Accordingly we will transform garbage to fertilizer, bio gas, electricity, etc. This process is known to the UNP as well.

But they have signed contracts with large companies involving millions. I am not blaming the Mayor. He was besieged by hounds, extortionists and partners in the bureaucracy.

The UNP has to look after them. That is why this project was never implemented. I face no such problems and I can implement my plans.

Q: So you plan to handle the garbage issue so easily. Will it work?

A: Garbage will not de disposed. It will be converted into numerous products like fibre,plastic,fertilizer, bio gas, electricity.

We will make the CMC financially sound by forming partnership with good entrepreneurs to spend more funds on public oriented projects.

We will go in to more investments like the Mono Rail system. This could ease the traffic congestion in the city. Buses will not be required so much. This is not an unbearable investment.

Q: People have heard this kind of fairy tales during the past 30-40 years. Do you expect the people to believe you?

A: Many proposals were there. But they were drowned by personal agendas of a few parachutists in the Council. Therefore garbage was not used as planned.

Because they wanted to fill low lands and sell those lands. Garbage was a lucrative income for them. But, hereafter we will make profits for the Council with zero garbage levels. We don't have to pay a cent to those who are processing the garbage except giving some space. They even will not charge us.

Few local companies who have experience in waste management are with me to execute these plans.

Q: Will you remove unauthorised structures in the city?

A: It's a complex question. To remove unauthorised constructions which are blocking the well-being of the city. We will take steps with a human touch to remove such constructions. I will not compromise with unlawful things.

Q: What are your plans to stop corruption?

A: We will introduce ISO standards which will prevent individual intervention in CMC administration. Corruption can be then controlled. According to these standards, not even the Mayor can interfere unless by a Council resolution. Hereafter, people will not have to waste time and bribes officials to get their work done. Ombudsman and Administrative Tribunal will hear grievances of public if the Council does not function to the satisfaction of people.

Q: How will you address the problems of 52% slum dwellers?

A: We require housing projects for low income groups who are living in sub-human conditions. That is why President Mahinda Rajapakse launched a 65,000 housing programme for such people. Last Monday we laid the foundation for 300 houses at Bloemendhal Road.

We need to revamp the entire sewerage system which is in a sad state. Sewerage system is linked with the rain water drains which flows to Beira Lake and the sea. Influential people have built unauthorised constructions blocking drains and manholes. We will have no compromise with them to dismantle such buildings. We will have to find a way without being ruthless to remove such buildings.

Poor people who have put up a roof to escape from the rain and sun is not a big issue. Majority of the 52 percent population who are the servants of the city are living in slums. How cruel are we? They are the workers of the City engaging in sweeping, garbage and sewerage tanks cleaning.

How cruelly we have treated them during the last 50 years. If I tell this in short they live in semi slavery conditions. Unless we help them it is a distant dream to beautify the city. This is the ugly face of the City.

Q: Then why have these people voted for UNP during the past 50 years?

A: Very interesting question. I think it needs a sociological research as to why they voted for the UNP all these years for a party which did not address their problems. I think `muscle men' in shanties control the areas and they are UNP beneficiaries who live on contracts of the UNP.

They have been able to maintain UNP vote bank in shanties. Even middle class and upper middle class, Tamils and Muslims traditionally voted for the UNP for their own sense of security. But now they say Vasu as a Mayor will be better.

Q: Don't you think that more than `muscle men' majority of our people are blindly voting for popular candidates and they would be easily deceived?

A: They vote habitually. They are the conservative layers you find in any country. They can be easily manipulated.

Q: Some people say that you are good to be in opposition because you can sense danger in any resolution or bill tabled in Council?

A: While being in the opposition in the PA Government I had the opportunity to critically analyze and raise matters confronting people. I have done that job well. Now I want to do this job in a better way.

Q: Some people say that even if we elect Vasu he will break the Mayor chair and may sit in the opposition. Are you a good administrator?

A: That is a compliment by people. I thank them. Yes I will pay an oppositional role in the office of Mayor. If we can be critical and understand our faults, then we can deliver a good service to the people.

Q: What is the theme of your campaign?

A: Citizens power into the Colombo city.

Q: Are you giving pledges like other politicians?

A: Not at all. I have only told my strategy. What is the use of giving promises if I can't implement it.

Q: How do you compare Colombo city with other cities?

A: We should not compare Colombo with cities of developed countries. Conditions in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Brazil, Venezuela are not better but worse than Colombo. We may compare with Bangkok. It is a fast developing country than us. I am sure lots of state intervention is taking place to keep the city upgraded.

In Bangkok you can find the same pavement hawkers and small traders selling from boats. What while we have to continue upgrading to make the city better. My grievance is that cleaning, processing garbage, upgrade facilities for people have not been done for decades.

Health indicators shows we were very much above any other Asian country and we are near to a developed country. But lack of sanitary practices and sub-human conditions among 52% population in Colombo contradict such statistics. Our literacy rate is far above Malaysia and Thailand. We could have been an example for those two countries. But the funds and resources available for the upgrading of the City have been squandered by the UNPers.

Q: What is your solution on pavement hawking?

A: Nothing else but broadening the pavement for both the pedestrian and the hawkers. Chasing pavement hawkers is not the solution. Every trader is important. Small traders contribute 20% to the total trading in the city.

We need to nurture every trader be they pavement hawkers, micro, middle or big traders. Pavement hawkers are easily accessible for pedestrians. Removing them is not the solution. It is like cutting the neck of a goat to get the pot. Many leaders do not realise this. We also need to make certain areas `no traffic' areas in the city. Many countries have no vehicle areas for hawkers and pedestrians. We need lots of town planning for this.

Q: What is your solution to the vehicle parking in the city?

A: In the future people can enter any part of the city from the proposed Mono Rail while keeping vehicles at boarding stations. This could even ease the heavy traffic in the city. The CMC can recover the investment from revenue.

The CMC can afford to invest on this project and grants will not be required. This will also create jobs for city youth which will prevent them getting dragged into undesirable businesses like drugs. All the city jobs have been offered to outsiders.

Q: Will you audit past accounts of the CMC?

A: The Auditor-General has shown failures, corruption, omissions, inferior work and unaccounted transactions. But nothing has been done so far. There is a possibility to impose surcharges on inferior work but that has not been keenly implemented. I will impose surcharges on such misdoings. I will bring them to book because I have no choice once the system is in place and even I cannot stop it.

Q: Why should people vote for you?

A: I will be able to bring a new change in the perspective and transformation of the administration of the CMC. This is not possible without the cooperation of employees. Employees are the most important and I need to motivate them in order to get the highest productivity. There are two ways of motivation such as material motivation and responsibility motivation. They will be brought in to responsible positions in order to get their advice for Council administration. We will not treat them as mere cogs in the wheel but as participants in the administration.

Then I will be able to address all the outstanding issues in the City which have been neglected for decades.

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