'Let's take the Irish example'

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* Final APRC report within three or four months.
* APRC discussions have arrived at 90 per cent.
* President was under lots of pressure from the international community because of the LTTE's intransigence and had no option but to intensify the conflict to counter terrorism.
* The 13th Amendment alone will not solve this problem.
* Need to have comprehensive sharing of power both at the centre and periphery.
* The definitions Unitary and Federal are very arbitrary.
* India should not be antagonised.
* Policies of the JVP is completely irrational, foolish and almost childish.
* The minorities have been deprived of their rights mainly due to language policy.

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While getting ready to invite the UNP for the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) once again, Science and Technology Minister and the APRC Chief Prof. Tissa Vitharana said that the pledge by the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe would take the country's politics into a new dimension.

Sitting on one of the 'hottest' seats in the recent past and being under constant pressure to come up with a solution to the burning ethnic crisis, Prof. Vitharana, who is walking on a 'tight rope', said that a political atmosphere like in Ireland where the national policies were not changed under any political party is the need of the hour to end the national problem.

Prof. Vitharana in an interview with the 'Sunday Observer' said that the APRC final document could be used as a basis for the peace talks if the LTTE is prepared to come genuinely into the peace process.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Are you confident that the APRC can release the final document within a given time frame?

A: I am not confident but hopeful, because we have already reached about 90 percent of the issues that need to be resolved. We are in the process of discussing the balance 10 percent. But if unexpected problems crop up it will be delayed.

I must say that members of the 14 political parties who are now participating have been very cooperative and with everyones' cooperation, I think we would be able to complete the final report within three or four months.

Q: Will this final report be an important move to solve the national problem?

A: I hope so. In trying to solve the national problem there has to be a consensus. If we are deeply divided whatever the solutions brought to solve the ethnic crisis will be resisted. As we have now reached 90 per cent of the consensus, we should be in a position really to set the framework for the future Constitution.

And if the LTTE is prepared to come genuinely into the peace process our document can also be used as the basis for peace talks. This is very important because this can disprove the charge against the government that we have not offered any solution to the ethnic problem. The other thing is that it also shows the consensus among the political parties to solve this problem.

We want to create a political atmosphere like in Ireland where the Labour Party and Conservative Party reached a common position. Their policies would not change under whatever government that came into power. They carried out the same set of policies.

The main argument of most of the Tamil political parties and even the LTTE was that there was no use reaching an agreement with the government to end the war since if the opposition came to power they will not honour that agreement.

This has been the issue that has been raised by the minorities as well as the international community. They were not serious about the peace process as a result and if we are coming out with a solution it is very important that the two main parties - UNP and SLFP - which form governments in our country should also be parties to the agreement.

Q: How true is the statement that the initial APRC report was thrown to the dustbin and a new set of proposals was prepared under the directions of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa?

A: Well. It is not true. What happened was that the President was under lots of pressure especially from the international community due to the LTTE's intransigence. So the President had no other option but to intensify the operations to counter terrorism. In that situation the President had to come up with a set of proposals to show that parallel to the military action there was also attempts to achieve peace.

He gave us the deadline for December to come up with proposals but as some of the issues had not been discussed as yet I asked for more time. Then the President directed us to identify what can be implemented under the existing Constitution and under the 13th Amendment.

As he wanted the proposals within a very limited time frame we had to stop our discussions on our main document. The President instructed us to prepare a set of proposals where we do not want a two thirds majority in Parliament as the consensus of the opposition was not favourable.

Therefore he asked us to come out with solutions which can be implemented within the framework of the Constitution.

Now we have resumed our discussion based on the new document and we are meeting weekly. We are going ahead with those discussions and nothing has been thrown into the dustbin.

Q: The APRC had over 60 discussions and now it is to implement the 13th Amendment. Do you see the whole APRC process upto then as a waste of time and money?

A: Well, as I told you earlier, we have not given up our main objective that will address all the issues that would satisfy the aspiration of the Tamil community. So there is no departure from trying to achieve our main objectives. I for one believe that the 13th Amendment alone will not solve this problem.

And we have to have much more comprehensive sharing of power both at the centre as well as the periphery. So that is what we are trying to achieve with the system that will be much more democratic so that all the people will be able to participate in the process of governance.

The 1978 Constitution has led to a big gap between the people and the elected representatives. The situation what we are experiencing is a breakdown of proper governance because of the fault of the 1978 Constitution. We have to change that.

Q: According to the final outcome what would the system be called as - Unitary or Federal?

A: This is also a big issue. When originally these terms were used they had very precious connotations. Today in terms of living reality those terms have lost their clear definitions. The countries which state they have unitary structures have federal features too.

The definitions Unitary and Federal are very arbitrary. I am sorry that people in this country are fighting over words. What we have to work out is the structures that will be most suitable for our situation and the practical ways on how we can address our problems.

Here there is an illusion among certain people. They think that if the word unitary is there it will enable the centre to prevent any separation. Actually there are situations where the separate tendencies have grown up and they have threatened the existence of the state.

There is a misconception too. That is if we devolve power, that power will be used by the separatist movement to achieve their separative objectives. But, if power is devolved to satisfy their people, they will be very happy to remain in a one country. On the other hand when there is no power devolution and people have to depend on the centre for everything, the separate tendencies will increase.

Q: The Opposition Leader has agreed with the implementation of the 13th Amendment. Will this help to bring the UNP representation back to the discussion table?

A: Yes. I think. Because the support of the UNP is vital for the proper implementation of the 13th Amendment. And support of the UNP will certainly help the implementation. I am really happy that the decision has been taken by the UNP leader. In addition, I would like to invite the UNP to come back for APRC discussions.

There will be an exchange of ideas with myself and the representative of the UNP K. N. Choksy. We will discuss with them at the APRC and try to accommodate their opinions. Then they will become a part of the committee.

Q: Do you agree that minorities are deprived of their rights and as a senior politician and the Chief of the APRC what nature of solution does the country need to solve the national problem?

A: Yes. The minorities have been deprived of their rights over the years. It started when Sinhala Only was made the official language in place of English. That was a good step and grievances of the Sinhala people were met.

As Tamil language was not made an official language, the Tamil community suffered subsequently. For example over 25 percent people in this country are Tamils but at the moment they have only 5 percent of the jobs in the public service.

That is a clear disadvantage for them and there are so many issues. We have to address those grievances by giving maximum devolution of power through the provinces, to the district level, down to the division level and we are even taking steps to pass it down to the village level.

So, the solution that we are trying to bring is a solution within one country. The words unitary or federal is immaterial.

Q: How do you hope to get the support of those parties which are not in the APRC?

A: The UNP has now offered their willingness. I will also invite the JVP. Then I hope to invite the TNA and now there is a request made by the TMVP too.

We will certainly discuss with the President and other parties once the TMVP is recognised as a political party through their vote. Then their request will also be taken into consideration.

But, the problem is they have not yet represented in the Parliament. At the moment the parties represented in the parliament are being invited to the APRC. It is a tricky problem. But once the elections are over we will invite them to have a discussion with the APRC and exchange of views. If there is a general consensus among the APRC about the inclusion of the TMVP, we will inform the President to take suitable action.

Q: The APRC is a framework for a political association. So without the parties, which withdrew from the Committee do you think the final report is fully valid?

A: All along I tried and will continue to try to get their support. But all what I can do is to try to get them to the APRC. If not whoever comes into the process will offer to express their views. Then at least the Tamil speaking people will have an understanding about the common view about the parties that are participating in the APRC.

Q: According to the Constitution, the President is empowered to implement the 13th Amendment. Therefore do you think that the APRC has a role to play now?

A: The representatives of the political parties have been involved in suggesting to the President what should be done in the context of the present Constitution. It is everbody's responsibility to implement the country's Constitution properly.

The parties at the APRC while continuing the main discussions for a new Constitution, will also look into the way in which the implementation can be done.

Q: What is your view about the JVP which vehemently opposes any solution drawn under the 13th Amendment?

A: As a socialist party they should be for devolution. And it is only through devolution that we can give power to the people. Otherwise power is centred among the elite in Colombo.

When the JVP had that slogan "Kolambata kiri gamata kakiri" they expressed the fact that the benefits are going to Colombo and not to the village. Why is that the power is centred in Colombo and devolved.

If they are genuine they should support devolution. But look at what they are doing now. They are participating in the provincial councils and their members are enjoying the benefits of power that has been devolved to the provinces.

If they are against this system they must withdraw from the provincial councils. So I cannot understand their logic of what they are doing and saying and also allegation that the whole process is done under the pressure of India.

Q: Does India back the 13th Amendment and are we under pressure from India to solve the ethnic problem soon?

A: Yes. It's true that India was interfering with our affairs in the past due to some reasons like their own security and also the security of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. But now the geopolitics have changed and the JVP should realise that.

Sri Lanka has economic cooperations with India and India is helping us economically. For example India has medicine for low prices and bulk of our medicine come from India. If the JVP says that we must boycott Indian goods then we will be helping American Multi National Companies to thrive.

The prices will be 100 times more. This is all nonsense.

Yes. India is backing the implementation of the 13th Amendment. For instance the 13th Amendment has devolved very much less powers than India has. Many people do not realise that.

Though it was suggested by India, the powers given to the provinces here are not a fraction given to the states in India.

An other point that needs to be remembered is that recognition of a separate state is done by the international community. Just because part of a state is taken off from the main state, it has no legal validity and it has no ability to sustain in a separate state unless other countries help it and trade with it.

Sri Lanka has to retain the support of India primarily and also with other countries. We cannot live in isolation. We should act in a way that we will win the sympathy and support of our neighbour India. India should not be antagonised.

I think the policies of the JVP is completely irrational, foolish and almost childish.

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Who is Tissa Vitharana

The young physician who was the Registrar to Professor K. Rajasuriya noticed that the patients whom he was treating for various diseases were seeking treatment for the same disease frequently.

"Something was wrong," the young doctor started to find remedies for the causes. He found that ill-health was not purely due to disease outbreaks but were due to various social and economic issues, which they needed to be addressed politically.

Like any other small child, this young doctor also wanted to become a 'healer' one day. Unlike other children he had set his goals accordingly and did his studies until he became a Professor.

His experience with poor patients and the non availability of hand books for medical students based on our own researches, the young physician said good bye to his clinical practice and started his career as a scientist.

His capabilities in the research on microbiology and immunology fields brought him to the post of the Director of the Medical Research Institute (MRI). Being a politburo member of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party since 1972, he entered into active politics after his uncle's death. On an invitation from the party he was selected as the candidate for Yatiyantota and Ruwanwella.

Proud of being an intellectual and also a 'genuine' politician, today holding the Science and Technology portfolio Prof. Tissa Vitharana is still proud when he is called a scientist.

Prof. Vitharana, has cherish and warm memories about his uncle late, Dr. N.M. Perera, the leader of the LSSP. "He was a very humane person. He did not made use of religion for political purposes. He is the best Buddhist I have ever known and he had really practised the religion.

He is a true socialist and I have learnt a lot from him. He is a person whom I have tried to immolate in my own life," Prof. Vitharana said adding that the biggest lesson he had learnt from his uncle was the art of listening to people.

Among so many unforgettable memories of his childhood, the day he scored his first century at the Ananda College topped the list.

The young sportsman who had played five sports was a good batsman who played for Bloomfield and NCC. "I can still remember the way my father hugged me surprisingly that day I scored 139 runs," Minister Prof. Vitharana said.

A music lover of all music types, this Minister enjoys music in Maname and Sinhabahu, which gives him a therapy after a hectic day full of discussions and arguments at the All Party Representative Committee.

"After the first APRC meeting that I chaired I thought it would be the last meeting, because it was so confrontational and so aggressive but I am glad that I was able to chair over 60 sessions," he said.

Prof. Vitharana, the voracious reader still wanting to update his knowledge in all the fields, reads while travelling. "My uncle read a lot. I could not afford to buy the Economist and I come all the way to his place just to read the magazine", said the Minister who buy dozens of magazines now to read to keep abreast with the fast developing world.

If asked this busy Minister who struggles to take science and technology to the village and also to find solutions for the burning ethnic problem, how does he find time to relax and read despite his busy schedules, his simple answer would be: "I think if you want you can always find time for reading and for your other hobbies. I am prepared to learn from any source.

As Buddha said the biggest crime is ignorance," he quipped. No 'private' goals to achieve, this very down to earth matured politician too has a dream to realise. That is to lead the LSSP, which he tells is a very socialist party, to its past glorious era.

Minister Vitharana, who said that the LSSPers never lied... never given broken promises to people... and were never charged in Courts for bribery, wants to see its party as one of the major political parties one day.

Always, even from his childhood, wanted to be simple, Tissa Vitharana not wanting to imitate someone else, he would be happy to remain in his small domain as Tissa Vitharana.