Opposition no challenge:

Govt ready to effect Constitutional changes - Minister Maithripala Sirisena

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

SLFP General Secretary and Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena says a constitutional change is essential to expedite the country’s development process and reflect the people’s mandate properly. The Minister in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer said according to Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has a set of fresh ideas to make the necessary changes in the country. A constitutional change is required to sort out the problems of the country. That is why the Government called upon the people to give two-thirds to the Government at the upcoming General Election.

Q: Do you think the Government would definitely be able to obtain two third majority at the upcoming General Election?

A: Certainly the Government has the ability of getting a two third majority. The constitutional experts who formulated the 1978 constitution said two-thirds cannot be obtained by any Government in any election under that constitution. But during the last Provincial Council elections, the Government could obtain two-thirds in three Provincial Councils and proved that two-thirds can be obtained under the present constitution. It has completely debunked the myth harboured by those constitutional experts. It has clearly proved the voters can give their mandate with a two-thirds majority even under the present constitution.

In the present political scenario, there is no active Opposition to be seen. It seems there is no contest at all for us at the forthcoming General Election! The President and the Government have the blessings of the people to score two-thirds at the upcoming General Election.

Q: At present the Opposition tries it’s level best to prevent the Government from obtaining a two-third majority. How do you view this attempt?

A: The Opposition during the past one year made attempts to survive entirely on falsehoods. This attitude of the Opposition was clearly witnessed at the last Presidential Election. They spread various rumours and false information through the media and internet which nobody believed. They have started to repeat the same political gimmicks this time as well. I think the people won’t believe those baseless allegations made by the Opposition. Today the entire opposition is in disarray as they attempted to follow Goebbels theories. Whatever the statements made by the Opposition, people do not have trust in them. They have been completely rejected by the people.

Q: How has the Government planned its election campaign?

A: We planned our campaign on the day we selected our candidates. In our election history, the SLFP has never appointed three Nomination Boards. This time on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, three Nomination Boards were appointed. If nominees are not willing to accept the Nomination Boards decisions, an Appeal Board also appointed to appear on behalf of such applicants. Therefore, the UPFA in collaboration with its other constituent parties selected the candidates in a very formal manner. On the day the nominations were handed over, the UPFA launched its election campaign.

We have already commenced our village and estate level meetings and pocket meetings as well. In addition, Election Monitoring Committees have also been set up at polling booth level. Arrangements have also been made to hold regional level and district level meetings. The President will participate in the countrywide major rallies with effect from next week. The UPFA has also opened up its district and electoral level offices. At present, the Government conducts its election campaign in a more systematic manner. Therefore our election campaign has reached a very successful stage at present. We don’t see Opposition election campaigns being conducted anywhere in the country.

Q: The UPFA has introduced a number of new faces such as artistes, sportsmen and professionals as well. What made the UPFA to introduce such a large number of candidates?

A: The SLFP has been ruling this country since 1994. During the past 62 years,the UNP had ruled the country for 31 years and the various SLFP led progressive alliances have governed the country for another 31 years. Since 1994, the Governments have been formed under the leadership of the SLFP. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga ruled the country for 11 years. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected the country’s President in 2005. We lost power in Parliament for nearly two and half years, from year 2001 to 2004. But the country’s Presidency was held by the SLFP. The SLFP has captured the power in all Provincial Councils since 1994 to date.

In this background, the President, the SLFP Central Committee and other constituent parties of the UPFA decided to introduce new faces to the forthcoming election. Nearly 80 percent of the Government MPs represent the Parliament since 1994. People also expect “new faces”, who are intelligent and capable. There is need for a new political vision satisfy the hopes and aspirations of the new generation.

“ Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma” introduced during the last Presidential Election is our election manifesto at this Parliamentary Election as well. To fulfil the objectives of the Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma, we need the assistance of professionals and experts who represent various fields. Therefore, we decided to introduce a mixture of candidates such as academics, artistes, sportsmen and experienced politicians. The Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma has pledged to make Sri Lanka the miracle of Asia- a country with a sustainable economy and a dignified society! We need the services of professionals in various fields to upgrade the country to the position of a developed country. Therefore, we decided to introduce a large number of “new faces.”

Q: Do you think the Opposition is in a position to pose any challenge to the Government at the forthcoming General Election?

A: Today the Opposition is no challenge to the Government. The UNP has sunk into a very helpless situation. They are not in a position to organise even an election campaign properly. The JVP is lagging far behind. We have never seen these two parties, the UNP and JVP groping in the dark as they do today due to wrong decisions taken by their Party Leaders. Therefore, both the UNP and JVP are no challenge to the Government. But we feel sorry for the present plight faced by these two political parties. At the last General Election, the JVP could obtain 40 seats by contesting under the UPFA banner. When the 2004 General Election results were released, the JVP Leaders said the JVP would form the next Government in 2010. But the JVP is in utter chaos today due to the absurd decisions taken by its party leadership. They have failed to feel the political pulse of the people and their political culture.

Q: The Government wants the people to give them a two thirds majority at this election ensure a very stable and efficient Government in the country. The Opposition however, charges that this is just another attempt by the Government to further consolidate its power. Your comments?

A: The country should have a stronger constitution to address the key issues of the people. The present constitution has lots of shortcomings. It has failed to meet the aspirations of the people. A constitutional change is essential to expedite the country’s development process and reflect the people’s mandate properly. The present electoral system needs to be reformed. We need two third majority to change the present electoral system as well. Sometimes this year’s Presidential Election may be the last one held to elect an Executive President.

According to Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma, the President wants to introduce fresh ideas to make necessary changes in the country. The UPFA has already passed a resolution to reduce the number of ministerial portfolios in the next Cabinet.

We are of the view that there should be constitutional provision to restrict the number of ministerial portfolios. Therefore, a constitutional change is required to sort out the problems in the country. That is why we call upon the people to give two-thirds to the Government at the upcoming General Election.

Q: If the Government gets two thirds majority, will it definitely amend the Constitution and its electoral system?

A: Yes of course. The Government would go for constitutional amendment.

Q: Can you be satisfied with the development drive launched under the Mahinda Chinthana during the past four years?

A: Those days people talked about such mega development projects as accelerated Mahaweli project, Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital and Kotte Parliament complex constructed by the UNP Government which came to power in 1977. But all these projects were implemented by a 17 year old UNP Government. Although a decision was taken to complete the accelerated Mahaweli project within five years, it really took 11 years to achieve the target. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa has governed this country just only four years. Of the four years, only two and half years were spent to end the war. A large number of mega development projects was commenced during the past four years including Hambantota Port, Weerawila International Airport, Moragahakanda-Kalu Ganga, Uma Oya, Deduru Oya and several mega power stations as well.

The construction of some of these projects has already been completed while other projects are now in progress. All these projects were started during the four year regime of President Rajapaksa. But all of the UNP’s mega development projects were completed during their 17 year rule. During the past four years, the Government has launched a massive development within the country. The recent reports issued by the international economic experts have confirmed that Sri Lanka is no longer a low-income generation country today. They have removed us from the list of poor countries in the world. Sri Lanka is the first country which has reached that position in South Asia. We should consider this as a plus factor irrespective of political hypocrisy.

Q: Do you think the Government became stronger due to the large number of Opposition MPs joining the Government?

A: The people have rejected the UNP as they did not have any love for the country. The Opposition MPs who love the country have joined President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They have understood well that they have no political future and the country too doesn’t have a future if they continued to be in the Opposition any longer. Their joining the Government is a great strength to us. Because a Government or a political party is further strengthened by the support they get from the people. The large number of Opposition supporters and the senior politicians who crossed over to the Government was a source of great strength to the political journey of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q: Are you confident the people in the Northern and Eastern provinces would give a more positive response to the Government at the upcoming General Election?

A: Of course. Compared to the last Presidential Election, we could expect a massive change in the Northern and the Eastern provinces at this General Election. At the last Presidential Election, the people cast their vote in the hope of changing the Government. But the Government vote base in the Northern and Eastern provinces remained more solid at the 2010 Presidential Election when compared with the results of 2005 Presidential Election. That this Government cannot be changed is the firm view held by the masses in the country. The people in the North and East know very well that the country’s development can be further expedited if they extend their support to the Government. They will take a clear decision on April 8 General Election by giving a strong mandate to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government.

Q: According to you what kind of development programs should be implemented by the Government to win the people in the Northern and the Eastern provinces?

A: Soon after the Eastern province was liberated from the clutches of terrorism, the Government under the “Negenahira Navodhaya” started a massive development drive in the East. Even when the terrorism was alive in some parts of the Northern Province, the Government launched the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” program in the North. After terrorism was completely eradicated, Uthuru Wasanthaya program was implemented within the entire Northern Province. The Government through these massive development schemes intends to win over the people in these two provinces. The Government has also taken measures to expedite the ongoing development projects and overcome the shortcomings associated with them. The Government also intends to effect several changes in the constitution to address the burning issues affecting the people in the north and the east.

Q: Despite terrorism being eradicated from the country, the international pressure on Sri Lanka still continues. This has been further endorsed by the recent statement of the UN Secretary General. What are the measures taken by the Government to address such challenges?

A: Today the United Nations has become a camp of Western Forces. The UN does not appear to be a neutral or impartial body today. Most of its power is in the hand of the Western countries or right wing forces. Therefore, the UN which is dominated by the Western Forces act according to their tune today. This is the true picture of the UN today. The UN Secretary General also caters to the interests of these Western countries. He doesn’t think in an impartial manner. The pro-LTTE elements who joined hands with Western Forces created havoc in our country during the past few years. At present these very elements attempt to project their view into the international community in a more shrewd manner. As a result, the UN Secretary General has also made a statement against Sri Lanka. It is the responsibility of the Government to clarify matters and make them understand the reality. Earlier too the Government had to face various allegations levelled by the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council.

But in every such occasion, we had the fullest support of a large number of countries rather than those who opposed us. Though a few Western countries oppose us, internationally we have nearly two-thirds support from countries worldwide. Though most of the international organisations talk about human rights and other issues, their actions clearly indicate that they act in a very bias and partial manner.