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Media insults not tolerable

SO: Minister Dilan Perera?

Minister: Speaking.

SO: Well. I am from the 'Sunday Observer' what's the latest Minister?

Minister: For the time being. I am very busy with answering to your sister paper Silumina.

SO: Why? Has Silumina attacked you?

Minister: No. Whether it is private media or State media, I can't allow the media to insult the national sport of the country.

SO: Shall we go to the country's present situation?

Minister: Well. A lot of sensational things are happening. As a whole, cross overs are in the limelight and then comes the Thoppigala victory by the armed forces.

SO: Will we be experiencing any cross overs in coming weeks?

Minister: I do not think.

SO: Will the SLFP-M Faction make a change in the country's political arena?

Minister: What do you mean that the SLFP was shaken after they left. No. Never. Think. SLFP lost only two members. But, the UNP lost over 20. I want to stress that only some media tried to make it a big issue. They put the duo in the crest of the mountain.

SO: Well, Politics to sports. You are the President of Volleyball Federation. How do you evaluate the present situation?

Minister: Doing well. We are implementing short term plans as well as long term plans to uplift the volleyball in the country. Our focus is not only the national team. From the villages, from the junior teams we have begun a lot for the future.

SO: What is this Vietnam tour misbehaviour incident?

Minister: Yes, Something unexpected and unusual had taken place and we took disciplinary action. That punishment is not for the duo (Coach and the Captain) but for all the Volleyball players of the country. I think this is a strong message for all of them to do their national duty when they are assigned a responsibility.

SO: What was the real incident that took place between you and your Ministry Secretary?

Minister: It is an internal issue. Anyway, he is my long term friend. After all, now I know where I stand and he knows where he stands. That is all. But I am not a puppet or a dummy of anybody.

SO: Are you satisfied to work as a Non-Cabinet Minister?

Minister: I enjoy with what I am entrusted by my leaders. I have been given a job to attend and I respect it. I fulfil it.

SO: You have said that the military victory at Thoppigala is not political victory till we go the talks.

Minister: Yes. The Opposition Leader had tried to under-estimate the victory. All of us in one voice should salute the heroic effort of our forces and at the same time we must try to transform that victory into political victory in a way which can be accepted by the Tamil peoples too. The APRC can do a lot in the process.

Mayor oozing with confidence

SO: CMC Mayor, Mr. Emitiyas?

Mayor: Yes.

SO: Mayor, I am from the Sunday Observer. What's new?

Mayor: Nothing new. Engaging in day to day activities.

SO: Do you like to comment on last week's hearing by one-man commission of inquiry on charges of misconduct and corruption?

Mayor: I told them that I have done nothing wrong. I have a pledge to keep for the people in the Colombo district. They are the people who sent me to the Mayor's seat.

SO: Did you feel that you were alone in the council?

Mayor: No, why? I am being supported by all.

SO: If it were so, why a hearing against you?

Mayor: Deputy Mayor Mr. Rajendran is always with me. He is our Group Leader. SLMC councillors are helping me. And JVP too. Mr. Ganeshan is with me.

SO: Have you enough confidence that you can handle the CMC in this situation?

Mayor: Hon. President believes in me. Defence Secretary believes in me.

SO: But, you are not on good terms with the Chief Minister Reginald Cooray. Is that so?

Mayor: I don't have any problems with him. I can work with them for the development of the city.

SO: Back to general politics, what do you think about the country's present situation?

Mayor: You mean in the CMC?

SO: No. In the country.

Mayor: Well. We must thank all who worked to liberate the Thoppigala from the LTTE Tigers. In that issue, we have to forget caste, race, religion or other differences, it is only the motherland.

(Please note: The above phone-in conversation took place few hours before the no-faith motion was passed in the council last Thursday.)

UNP is with fresh faces

SO: Mr. Fernando, what's the latest?

MP: Nothing new. But we are studying and speaking on the price hike of commodities.

SO: Only talking? What kind of alternatives do you have?

MP: We have alternatives. But first of all we have to defeat the government.

SO: What do you think about the country's political situation?

MP: Well, the government is in a crisis. What government tried was to break other parties. But the result was the SLFP got shattered.

SO: The UNP is one of the single major parties in the country. Then, why do you go for a coalition with a faction from two people?

MP: Yes, two people. But their capacity is so large.

SO: But, the UNP lost 23 experienced MPs. You mean that they were not strong enough?

MP: They left the UNP as they thought we couldn't defeat the government. They wanted portfolios as they were in the retirement age. That's why they joined the government. It cleaned the UNP and now the party has a fresh energy with young faces.

SO: Your leader has said that "Thoppigala" is a jungle and nothing to boast on it. What do you think?

MP: Yes, it is right. Thoppigala is a jungle. Anyway, what he tried to say is the area was completely cleared and taken into government's control under the leadership of former President D. B. Wijetunga. This government last time betrayed the soldiers' previous victory and secured it again. Anyhow, what I want to say is that the government should say sorry to the families of soldiers who sacrificed their lives on both occasions.

SO: How was your name connected to the incident of the former President R. Premadasa's statue in Kurunegala?

MP: That is a conspiracy to sling mud at me. Now everything has been revealed. What I think is the persons who demolished took the steps to build it. I have asked the authorities to check the cement mixture which they have used to replace the head. Then you will be able to see the real conspiracy.

SO: How do you answer all of these allegations?

MP: No need to worry. People will teach them a lesson when the next election comes.

SO: But, a senior MP had said that no elections till 2010.

MP: That is what former President Chandrika Kumaratunga also said. But what happened. Time will heal everything very soon.