'Govt doing humanitarian development in East'

SO: - Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara please?

Minister: - Yes. Who is speaking there?

SO: - I'm from Sunday Observer and what's the latest?

Minister: - Well, I am busy with the opening of another Coopfed in this week. In addition to that, 17 of UNP dissident MPs are strengthening President Mahinda Rajapaksa's hands for him to go forward.

SO: - There were some talks about threats on your life? Were you threatened by anyone?

Minister: - This is the analysis. If the so called businessman can offer one million rupees for one MP who wished to join with the Opposition Leader again, what do you think of assassinating one or two spending a much lesser amount? The result is that the Opposition Leader can appoint his favourites for vacant seats.

SO: - The much looked upto APRC process was facing some obstacles. Do you think that it would bring the expected results?

Minister: - APRC is the place where various opinions over the issue were to be discussed and we have to accept such kind of obstacles. Various opinions forwarded to the APRC would definitely help in find a finding solution.

SO: - But the JVP and the UNP have expressed their unhappiness over the proceedings?

Minister: - That is why, I am telling you. This is a place where you have a variety of opinions. If the JVP thinks that they can forward their socialist thinking as it is to the APRC, it cannot be done. But, any patriotic person has to think twice and work in the process.

SO: - Are you satisfied with the government's development process?

Minister: - Why not? The government is making every possible effort to do their best. The government engages in humanitarian development activities in the Eastern Province using its maximum strength.

SO: - You came to Parliament on the UNP ticket and at present you are a minister of the UPFA government. How do you feel when you go to your electorate?

Minister: - No problem. Not at all. I am still a UNPer. On the other hand, the President has the right to appoint anybody from any party. That is not an issue.

SO: - Will the Northern Province be cleared by the military forces as they did in the East?

Minister: - We are thinking about a negotiated settlement. In a war situation you can't go to the roots of the problem.

What we try through the APRC is to bring about negotiated settlement. But that does not mean, the government stops the war against terrorism.

SO: - An MP from the TNA recently said that they were not invited to the APRC. Is that true?

Minister: - No. We invited all. Still the doors are open.

Why don't they come and join in the process?

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'Proposed national front will solve country's problems'

SO: - Mr. Wasantha Samarasinghe please?

MP: - Speaking.

SO: - Mr. Samarasinghe, I'm from the Sunday Observer and what's the latest?

MP: - We are in the midst of the party's two weeks of meeting people all over the Island.

I am responsible for one electorate and I am busy there.

On the other hand, I also deal with private sector employees as they had a problem of surviving with the present Cost of Living and economic barriers enforced on them.

SO: - There were some talks about a new political front from the JVP. What is that?

MP: - Yes, We are meeting the public, intellectuals, religious leaders, businessmen and others to discuss our effort to launch a national front which can correctly identify the country's problems and solve them. We have named it as Jana Sanvada Desathiya.

SO: - The JVP was seen eagerly participating in the APRC process. But, at present it seems you have some problems with the process?

MP: - Yes. we, as a responsible political party of the country wanted to arrive at a consensus over the national problem. But by now the APRC is doing all other things except what they were entrusted to do.

We can't be the partners of a process which divides the country. At present they work for the needs of the INGOs and Western countries. We have to meet the aspirations of the Tamil people who had suffered enough with the problem.

SO: - You supported this regime to come into power. Today, you criticise its proceedings. Why is that?

MP: - We never wanted to secure a regime which does not stand for the public.

So long as the government is on the right track we will assist it. Now, the best thing for the government is to come back to the right track. Otherwise, the outcome would be bad for them.

SO: - Does it mean you are not going to support the Government when the Budget proposals for next year is put introduced in Parliament?

MP: - Oh..! It is too early to predict. The fact is we have to study the Budget proposals and we will act accordingly. If the budget is again for some one else's needs we have to take a tough decision.

SO: - Do you have any plan to topple the government?

MP: - Imagine. If we topple the government today, who will be ruling the country tomorrow? They would also follow the same track. Then, what's the use of toppling the government. What we try is to bring about a change through the proposed political front.

SO: - What do you think about the UNP's proceedings? Do they have the need to solve the country's burning issues?

MP: - I know of only one thing about the UNP. That is they failed to solve the party's inner problems. Over 20 MPs have left the party and joined the government. SB goes in one direction. Tissa Attanayake goes in another direction. Vajira Abeywardena sees another side. That is the situation in the UNP.

SO:- What is your comment over the proceedings in Eastern Province?

MP:- Well. I have two issues to highlight there. The North and the East were demerged on our pressurisation.

The second is that even the government did not believe that the forces could clear the Eastern Province.

When we showed them that it could be done, they did it. Now, the latest is that all 107 MPs in the government are doing what. The development process is slower and what has been so far done is not satisfactory. The money spent for celebrations should have been used for development activities.

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