Political News | Sundayobserver.lk

SLFP Chief Ministerial candidate Berty Premalal Dissanayake
(Former Chief Minister - NCP)

Presently, the North Central Province is seeking a new leadership. Candidates are tough and competing with strong will power. This time ‘Face 2 Face’ talked to the two main competitors from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United National Party.

UNP Chief Ministerial candidate Maj.Gen. Janaka Perera (Rtd.)

What is your view of the challenges you have to face in this election campaign facing a tough candidate as your main opponent?

BPD: I don’t find either the competition challenging or the competitor so strong. Really speaking I have no challenger. He can be a highly capable former senior Army officer but definitely not suitable for the CM post. He has no roots in the North Central Province.

So where are his people? It is the Chief Minister’s duty to ensure safety and security to people. For that he should be at least be able to simply walk in to a camp and meet the security personnel. But he is not authorized to enter any of the camps and then how can he carry on with his duties?

JP: If the election is free and fair I wouldn’t mind the toughness of the competition. But we have found that our pool of voters is exceptional. My competitor says he will win at any cost. We are putting our best efforts to achieve victory.

The HQI is throwing trumped up charges at our party supporters and when we inquire further he explains that those charges were brought up on the orders from the top. But how hard the circumstances may be, we can assure that people will rally round us.

BPD: Definitely we are winning. We were sure even before the UNP nominated their list of candidates. We know that people are with us and around us. Among the population it is hard to find any one supporting the UNP.

The basic fact is I have not lied to the people and I have not fooled them in all my political life. We are very simple people. I respect our uniqueness as a nation. People know these facts very well. And people have witnessed the efforts we have put in to develop the province.

JP: Whatever I had initiated in the past was a success. I would not start something that I’m not confident of. I strongly believe that I have the blessings of the noble triple gem, according to my religious belief. I’m blessed by the Sri Maha Bodhi - the most sacred Buddhist symbol of the North Central Province. I’m 100% sure about my victory.

BPD: I’m going to carry on with the development progress that I have already started during my previous term as the Chief Minister. The North Central Province needs development along with an economic uplift. I will be taking all possible steps to strengthen the people more and more.

This is important simply because we can’t control the oil prices or the prices of commodities. Sometimes it is beyond our control. Hence, my pledge is to achieve a sustainable development.

JP: This was known as the land of the Kings (Rajarata). Now it has become the land of hardships (Dushkara rata). I want to pull the people out of that difficult situation. I will use all my resources to create employment to people.

I will bring in, through my contacts abroad - personal as well as foreign Governments, to set up companies and by bringing in more foreign entrepreneurs. Of course the funds will be channelled through the Government but will ensure that it is utilised for the development of the North Central Province.

As you have identified, what are the most crucial problems people of the North Central Province are facing currently?

BPD: The agriculture sector needs lot of support. For example, sustainable water supply for their crops, fertilizer subsidies and the introduction of alternative crops. The dairy industry has lot of potentials to grow.

Farmers need to be educated on these subjects. Already the education sector has shown remarkable results yet it can be brought on to a higher platform. And of course the security, which lies in the trusted hands of our security personnel.

JP: Lack of education, health and security are the main concerns. Educational at standard I found, is at the lowest ebb In the last Ordinary level results Anuradhapura was at the bottom of the list.

Same thing with the year 5 scholarship exam as well. There are many health hazards the people are faced. And the irrigation system needs more attention.

What kind of remedies have you identified to these urgent problems of the people?

BPD: Well, one is we need to repair and restore the existing irrigation tanks and canals. In addition to the agriculture sector, we need to introduce alternative crops to the farmers. And I hope to raise the dairy sector by educating and strengthening the dairy farmer.

Such steps can easily be taken in the local government level. Education is already at a satisfactory level. I saw a 50% - 60% development in the education sector. There was a need for 2500 teachers and the President has appointed 1500 and we were planning to appoint the rest by recruiting graduates.

The elections came by but definitely we will continue with that after the elections. The quality of a school depends on its resources. So we need to provide more facilities and resources to schools so they will not be different from other popular schools.

Pre-school education is another area we are emphasising on since it lays the foundation for any child. No one can mess around with it. All the teachers should be trained on the same level.

The NCP believes there is no future without education. We have developed the hospitals - base as well as peripheral - on a particular plan and it will neglect a single hospital. This we found to be very effective.

JP: Education, health, security and irrigation sectors need a complete revamping process. Schools need more teachers with better facilities. Rural hospitals need to be developed and more doctors and nurse staff are needed. The road network is in a sad state, and because of that there is no proper transport channel, the major handicap for the villagers.

To the total economic structure of the NCP, the agriculture sector contributes on a large scale. Hence, it needs more attention in the development process - supporting the farmers, developing irrigation systems etc. What is your intention in achieving this target?

BPD: As I have mentioned earlier, we need to repair and restore the existing irrigation tanks and canals. And the ongoing Moragahakanda mega project will contribute to a greater extent. We have already done up to a point during my time and there are more places we have now identified.

And of course introducing alternative crops to the farmer is another one. Cultivating the same crop over a period of time is not favourable on long-term basis. We succeeded in introducing corn cultivation and during the six years it was extended to over 60,000 acres.

And I hope to set up stalls selling milk and dairy products in each and every town. The farmers don’t know how to get the maximum benefit from the dairy cows they own. They need to be educated and we need a change in their thinking pattern as well.

JP: As I said, the road network needs to be improved for farmers to transport their produce to markets. The irrigation systems - tanks, canals - need to be repaired and renovated. We need to emphasize on a technology to improve production and minimize the cost.

Countries that have an improved agriculture sector, those that I have visited are following this method. I have examined these technologies of such countries like Thailand, Japan, Australia and Indonesia, during my visits. These countries are willing to help us.

If we consider the past development process have we made mistakes during the recent history?

BPD: No. I do not think or rather do not see any failures. What is important is the future.

JP: If there were no lapses in the past there would have been no reason for ‘Rajarata’ to fall into the ‘dushkara rata’ (land of hardships).

NCP, comparative to most of the other parts of the country suffers from the unique LTTE terrorist threat. As you will be taking the responsibility as the leader of the people how would you assure the safety and security of the people?

BPD: Security is totally assured. I have my gratitude to the security personnel for their efforts to safeguard the people. It is something that can not be achieved single handedly.

JP: My years of experience in the Army would definitely help. During my commission I ensured the safety of the Welioya area and made it flourish. I guaranteed the same levels of security for the North and East.

I have a great concern for Internally displaced people and their problems which I had addressed during my service period. I have assured them of their welfare. I’m confident that I can assure the safety of the lives of the people.

BPD: Definitely. The development programs will not be hindered when the Provincial Council and the Central Government focus towards the same direction. It is one of the reasons why the people are with us.

JP: I’m 100% sure. I’m very much confident I can bring back the lost glory.

Heading to victory