I came to strengthen President’s hand -SB

*Only leader who didn’t bow to int’l pressure:

* UNPers should support him:

* Ranil wants Fonseka to lose:

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

Q: Do you think that you had got into the wrong wagon and now got into the correct vehicle?

A: We joined the UNP as we thought it would be the ideal party to bring the country into a prosperous period. We joined the UNP during the latter part of Chandrika Bandaranaike’s regime.

For the first time, the country’s economy was in bad shape and the LTTE was becoming so strong and both Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts had completely fallen into the LTTE.

Apart from these defeats, the national income suffered a lot while the main income generators - apparels and tourism - were affected badly.

She was so stubborn and politicians like me, who were so close to her, tried to change her but failed.

With no fruitful solution in sight, we decided to topple the government. We helped the UNP to come into power.

The team including Thondaman and SLMC helped the UNP to form the government but the senior politicians like Keheliya Rambukwella, Rajitha Senaratne and Mahinda Samarasinghe were thrown out of the Cabinet. The senior most UNPer Erick Aluvihare became just a name sake minister.

Ranil appointed Choksy as the Minister of Finance but the real Finance Minister was Charitha Ratwatte who had the upper hand in all the activities.

Ranil’s friends, who were ‘imported’ from UK, USA, France and Canada were given top posts in majority of state institutions.

They did not know the pulse of the ‘Sirikotha’. They illtreated the ordinary UNPers and our trade unionists. They did not pass money for various development activities at Pradeshiya Sabha levels and we were not allowed to fill the vacancies.

The youth, who had high hopes about the UNP government, were thoroughly dissatisfied with the UNP and we were helpless as we could not give jobs while the vacancies were available.

By then Ranil had started illtreating me. He did not allow the popular and capable politicians to come up. As I loved the UNP, I had a silent mission to create a democratic environment in the UNP.

Q: You said that the majority of the UNPers were on your side. So were you able to create that environment?

A: No. I tried my best. As I mentioned earlier, it was a silent attempt while Ranil tried his best to undercut me. I tried to get a common agreement but failed due to Ranil’s tactics.

There is no democracy in the party and I would say there is no .0001 of democracy in the UNP under Ranil.

Q: It sounds that you went against him as he did not respect your proposals.

A: It is true that he did not listen to me as he wanted to hold all powers with him. But, I loved the UNP as it was the main political party within a fine democratic frame in the country.

But this respectable party was destroyed by Ranil for his own survival.

Earlier, the UNP party leader was be elected annually at the convention. It was a forum to exercise members right to select a leader of their choice. But this became inactive after Ranil and he became a life member. He kept all powers.

I have submitted 22 proposals to bring the party back to normal. Majority agreed but when the senior UNPers were subjected to harassment, they crossed over.

But still having hopes that the party would come up, I stayed with the party. Then there was a proposal from the party to appoint me and Sajith as the Party Chairman and deputy leader.

At the beginning, he could not turn down the proposal, but later he tactically got it changed and appointed Jayawickrama Perera as the Chairman of the Party and Karu Jayasuriya as the Deputy Leader.

Q: If not Sarath Fonseka, whom do you think that the party should have recommended to challenge President Rajapaksa?

A: Yes, when the talk about Presidential election was going around, majority of the senior hands of the party claimed that they cannot market Ranil or Karu. Sajith said that he did not have any desire to enter the fray.

Then they proposed my name. He said that there was no point in naming a person as there would be no presidential election and that instead there would be a general election. He postponed naming a person and slowly put his plan into action.

His plan is that he should not contest as he would face a severe defeat. His am was that nobody from the party should be named he feared that person would emerge as the leader and that an outsider should be appointed.

But that he (nominee) should lose the election as Ranil would not have a place in the party. And that he should be the leader until 2017.

According to his plan, Ranil would be the leader of the party for the next eight-years and we would be in the Opposition for the next eight years and the UNPers would have to suffer.

Q: You accuse him of destroying the UNP. How do you prove it?

A: What I have mentioned are the main basics to prove how he had destroyed the UNP. The UNP is the main political party in the country. It has a strong history and it was more powerful than the SLFP.

Without cast or creed, the UNP is a political party that was created with the support of all the communities. So, Ranil has destroyed this strong political party. He should be responsible for it.

Ranil is responsible for making an alliance to bring Fonseka to contest the Presidential polls. It is obvious that Fonseka had a political agenda when he was serving in the Army.

Q: This is not the sole decision of the UNP but the JVP too endorsed his candidature. How do you see them joining with Fonseka?

A: Both the UNP and JVP is now trying to help Fonseka who planned to capture power while he was in the Army. Yes, the JVP plays the main character in this episode.

The JVP knows that they will never come into power. The JVP too has a plan in supporting Fonseka . They will get the support of the Opposition to bring as the President and then a caretaker government would be appointed.

Ranil had a dream to become the Prime Minister of the caretaker government, but failed. His intention was to postpone General Elections for another two years.

The JVP wants to mislead the UNP. The second tactic of the JVP is make all the parties to contest under the Swan symbol.

The biggest disadvantage will be faced by the UNP. Some UNPers will not have the chance to contest and will lose their ticket to contest.

The JVP will take the UNP preferential votes and appoint 30 MPs. That is why they promote a non-political Prime Minister.

What I can predict is that there would be a dictatorial government and that would be the end of democracy.

The UNP would be lose greatly. Less than 20 UNPers would be elected to the parliament. The JVP will raise its head.

Q: But a few weeks ago you had discussions with Fonseka to support him. Why did you change suddenly?

A: I have realised the danger and decided to come out. We have suffered for 30 years due to war. President Rajapaksa, Prime Minister, Basil Rajapaksa, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and other prominent ministers requested me to support the President.

I always hold the view that the total credit of defeating the LTTE should go to President Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary.

Q: But you earlier called Fonseka the man of the match. How do you change your own comments?

A: Yes, I called him as the man of the match and still to me he is the man of the match. Fonseka was man of the match in the last battle at Nandikadal. Similarly, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Gunatillake was the man of the match when the Security Forces killed Thamil Chelvan.

When the Forces destroyed Tiger vessels, it was the then Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda who was the man of the match.

But the Man of the Series in the humanitarian operation was none other than the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. President Rajapaksa was the captain who gave an inspirational and fearless leadership.

Without doubt, even while highly criticising some of the policies of the President I always stood for him for giving the stern political leadership to defeat the LTTE.

Q: But at the beginning you said that the war cannot be won.

A: Yes, still I hold the same. Still I say that the war is not finished. Most of Sri Lankans too did not believe that the war would come to an end.

But amidst lots of international pressure, President Rajapaksa gave the political leadership that no other leader could do.

Still I say that the war has not ended. This war did not commence due to dreams.

This has root causes. It is a combination of economic, social and various other sufferings and discriminations against Tamils.

These problems have become serious now and need to be carefully addressed. We have to seriously look into power devolution.

Today the country is facing a huge challenge to prevent the LTTE re-emerging again to develop the country. The JVP is against any power devolution but the UNP is in a good stand on this issue.

But the problem is that there would not be a UNP after the elections.

Q: Is it true that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga will be back in politics against the President?

A: Yes, it is true. She will be seen on political stages soon. How can she contribute to defeat President Rajapaksa, who knows the heart beat of the common man. What she should do is to join him to develop this country without destroying it.

Q: What is the true reason for your crossover?

A: Mainly I was dissatisfied with the UNP leadership as I was ill-treated and the way he (Ranil) destroys the respectable political party.

Q: Don’t you think that you are disillusioned every time and make your cross overs accordingly?

A: No. Always I took the correct decision. I did the right thing earlier and even now.

Q: You had strongly criticised the government’s economic policies. Is there a change in those now as you are with the government?

A: No. There would not be any change in any of my policies and I still hold the same views. I agree I have some issues with the government economic policies. Lots of local and international businessmen were in fear of investing.Still we have problems, but I strongly believe we can solve them with the President as he listens to every one before getting a common consensus.

Q: The UNP and JVP are in two different folds but now batting in the same field against Mahinda Rajapaksa. How do you see the two rivals rallying around a common goal?

A: The UNP got caught in the JVP’s trap. The UNP leader too agreed as he wants the party face a defeat at the election for him to survive.At the same time he wants Fonseka to lose the election.

This is not an agreement by these two parties. The main pledge of these two is the abolition of the executive presidency but now there are changes in this demand. Instead they want to now keep certain executive powers with them.

Q: Do you see Fonseka as a threat to President Rajapaksa ?

A: If Ranil comes majority of UNPers will not support but there is a fresh enthusiasm among the UNPers with the arrival of Fonseka into politics. The JVPers too have joined to defeat President Rajapaksa.But remember, the JVP which helped the President at his first election is no more.

The alliance between these two is like getting the support of a paralysed patient. So I don’t see a major threat to President Rajapaksa.

Q: How many UNPers would follow you?

A: There are many. But please don’t ask me about this now. There are Provincial councillors, pradeshiya sabha members to join to strengthen the hands of the President.

Q: The JVP claimed that whenever you crossed over, that particular political party faced defeat. Ranil was defeated as you joined him.

A: No. When I joined the party it recorded a victory. When Ranil was contesting I was in jail. Those whom I supported all won at the elections. I am the only Sinhalese politician who got the highest votes from Nuwara Eliya.

It was more than Thondaman. After I joined the UNP and secured 89,000 votes, Renuka Herath, who was the district leader, was able to get 29,000. Then I came to Kandy and I did not have a seat to contest, but I got 127,000 votes.

Q: Why did you turn blue again?. Is it because you were promised the premiership?

A: No discussions and no promises, but I wanted to support President Rajapaksa to win the elections.

Q: Did you request the President to grant you your lost civic rights?

A: No. Why should I request him. I don’t think he can remember that I have no civic rights.