UPFA landslide victory foregone conclusion -Felix Perera

by A.L. Hewavissenti

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Felix Perera is confident that the UPFA will register a landslide victory at the forthcoming General Election securing a two-thirds majority under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Minister Perera, the SLFP’s Ja-Ela stalwart, said the UPFA could easily secure a two-third majority as the masses are strongly supporting President Rajapaksa.

“At the early stage of the first term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, UPFA had a thin majority in the Parliament. At the time, the Opposition was clamouring that the UPFA government’s end was nearing. Yet the President made a wise decision by inviting MPs from the Opposition who responded positively,” he said.

Minister Perera who has vast experience in the political arena became the SLFP Chief Organiser for Ja-Ela electorate in 1978. During the current General Election campaign, he has been functioning as the able deputy of the district leader and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP.

It is during his tenure as the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the construction of Asia’s biggest fisheries harbour and 10 new fisheries harbours and anchored harbours took place. He pioneered in constructing the fullfledged new fish market at Peliyagoda, and setting up Sri Lanka’s first canned fish factory in Galle.

“The biggest victory in my political life is to be able to bring the Urban Council and the Pradeshiya Sabha in the Ja-Ela electorate under SLFP control under my leadership which were for a long time under UNP control,” He proudly claims.

He is the only senior politician and the only Cabinet Minister in Gampaha District with 32 years of political experience. Here are some excerpts of the interview the Sunday Observer had with him.

Q: You made a debut in politics at a politically turbulent period where no one would dare raise a voice against then government. If you could elaborate more on that....

Yes, as you said I entered politics at a turbulent period on the invitation of my confidant late Wijaya Kumaratunga in 1978. At that time the UNP government was strong and powerful with 5/6 majority. The government was so repressive that it allowed no one to raise a voice against the government. Many newcomers to politics joined the government where as I swam against the wave.

When Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s civil rights were abolished, J.R. Jayewardene vainly claimed that there is not a single coward to hold a meeting for Mrs. Bandaranaike. It was a challenge and there was hardly any one who stood against the President’s word. I took up the challenge and organised a meeting for Mrs. Bandaranaike in Ja-Ela town. I brought her to Ja-Ela town from Attanagalla as a queen with a parade of around five hundred motor bikes. We accepted the challenge and showed the government that though Mrs. Bandaranaike’s civic rights were abolished by J.R. Jayewardene as a political revenge, the people were still with her. It was a huge disgrace for the Government and it immediately reacted by arresting several people who addressed the gathering.

At the Presidential election in 1982, the SLFP did not have a strong candidate to produce in the election, yet we were not disheartened. Party members such as Wijaya Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka set off in search of a good candidate from the SLFP. They held crucial discussions with Hector Kobbekaduwa and compelled him to accept the Presidential Candidacy when J.R. was ready for a single horse race.

We faced several difficulties with a few facilities. The confined financial status was the main barrier. Yet we continued to give a good fight to J.R. We did not have facilities to travel by air to Jaffna to address people. We travelled by road though it consumed a lot of time and I am proud to state that we received the highest votes from Jaffna.During past Provincial Council Elections the UNP could receive only 2.6 million votes in all provinces. Where as under so many restricted conditions in 1982, we bagged the same of votes from Jaffna.

Q: You mentioned that then government applied repressive measures on those who stood for democracy. You too had to taste the bitter experience of political revenge.....

At the time, the then Government wanted to hold a referendum, it started hunting for those who stood for democracy.

They were afraid of us since we strongly stood against injustice. We were labelled as Naxalite conspirators and were imprisoned for four months. It was a bitter experience that our cells were encircled by thorns. With least sanitary facilities they turned our lives into a hell. We slept at nights on the ground throughout four months without a pillow on our heads.

A high voltage light bulb was fixed on top of our heads. I had to face the repercussion of exposing to the high voltage light bulb later in my life.

Unlike some of today’s prisoners, we neither betrayed the country while in the jail nor asked for luxury facilities like air conditions. At last they had no option but to free us since there was no charge against us. For the first time in the history we were released at 12 midnight.

Q: What made you to take the risky challenge of going to Jaffna in 1986 when the LTTE strife was intense?

When the terrorist strife was so intense, LTTE killed 13 and captured three Army soldiers. Then government took no attempt to release them.

Their parents came to us seeking help to release them. Since we strongly needed to help them, Wijaya Kumaratunga, Ossi Abeygunasekera and myself took up that risky challenge and left for Jaffna.

That time the entire Jaffna peninsula was under LTTE control. We met LTTE leaders and requested permission to visit those three soldiers. That time the LTTE leader was a person called Kittu.

Captured soldiers were euphoric to see us and it was a boost for their lost morale. Though the government took no action, our effort to release them was successful and they were released. I must mention that I am the only person who is alive among those who journeyed to Jaffna during the early stages of the war in the name of peace.

Q: How was the response you got from Jaffna people?

It was a rousing welcome for us from the ordinary people and is unforgettable. I consider it as one of the landmarks in my life.

Though they were armed with weapons, we were received warmly. According to my point of view, they’re a misled group of people; their hospitality and interaction were at a high standard. They were polite enough to take us to the Nallur Kovil after discussions.

Q: You supported Wijaya in politics, and involved in many political activities. When did you actively involve in politics?

I made my debut in active politics in 1988. It was a politically turbulent period. Unidentified gangs played havoc in all corners of the country. People who wanted to contest the election received death threats. I entered politics during that chaotic period. It was in fact a challenge. Despite the death threats I received, I did not give up my idea of contesting the Provincial Council Election. People showed their gratitude in the election by placing me in the second rank in Gampaha District.

Ja-Ela was a stronghold of UNP control at the time you entered politics. But now you were able to transfer UNP votes to SLFP. What special strategies you consider in winning people’s heart?

Mainly I fought for democracy. Other than that I provided a lot of employment opportunities for the youth in my electorate with no political discrimination.

Before I entered politics, I was at the peak of my business.During my political career,I have done a lot of social services such as road development projects, housing projects and infrastructure facility development programmes etc.

If I elaborate them more specifically, I pioneered in setting up the first flyover in Sri Lanka in Ragama.

I contributed to the development in the electorate by developing Ragama Teaching Hospital, building a new hospital in Ja-Ela, Broadening the road by 100ft, from Ja-Ela to Ekala, building a shopping complex in Ragama, developing the railway from Ragama to Ja-Ela as a double track, carrying out water and electricity projects. Those were carried out in big measures as projects.

Apart from that, I have served the people in my electorate in various ways such as providing facilities for disabled, extending financial support for various Samithis in villages, providing facilities to start SMEs etc. These are a few examples.

Throughout 32 years I have been serving the people in my electorate and I need people’s support to continue that.

Q: Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry embarked on a special project of setting up Sri Lanka’s first ever canned fish factory in Kaduruduwa, Galle. What about that?

Well, we plan to start the operation process in May and to complete 50% of it by December this year. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by 2011. This will be the first ever canned fish factory to be set up in Sri Lanka. It will provide 2500 direct and 5000 indirect employment opportunities. Initially New Zealand, Switzerland, and Dubai investors are involved and it will be branded a multinational company.

Our mission is to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in the canned fish industry so that the out flow of the country’s capital for importing canned fish can to a great extent be saved.

Q: Today you were become a full-fledged politician with the callous experiences you underwent. Have you shared your experiences with juniors and guided them in politics?

Yes of course! A lot of young blood entered politics under my guidance. They are successful in the field.

I am proud to claim that a large number of budding politicians who represent Pradeshiya Sabha to Parliament were moulded by me.Whenever they need any support I am ready to extend and they too respect me as their teacher.

Q: You spearheaded bringing Basil Rajapaksa to Gampaha District and made him the team leader sacrificing your leadership. What made you to invite Basil Rajapaksa to Gampaha District?

The best leader I had ever met in my political life is President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He is a true human being. He is the only leader who was able to eradicate terrorism. Because of that we lead peaceful lives today. I received several death threats from the LTTE. Therefore during past years my lifestyle was too restricted.

We should be grateful to the leader who provided a peaceful atmosphere in the country. I vehemently needed to be grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. That is one of the reasons why I invited his brother to Gampaha District.

Besides, I was so surprised by the development projects which were carried out under the supervision of Basil Rajapaksa in several areas in the country. I wanted him to `lead the way in developing Gampaha District.

Q: What are your observations on the Opposition in Sri Lanka today?

The Opposition has become the providers of jokes to everyone. They have lost their vision.

They are like navigators without direction, stranded and helpless in the sea of politics. The Opposition of a country should actively contribute in developing the country. But unfortunately in Sri Lanka, they curse the country and its people and try to stop the development process carried out by the government by exerting some foreign pressures.

They are vainly attempting to topple the government which is merely a day dream.

Q: Are you of strong view that a constitutional change is mandatory?

Yes of course! I would tell you three people who caused the destruction of the country. Velupillai Prabhakaran, Rohana Wijeyweera and J.R.Jayewardene.

Though these three people are not living at present, the destruction they incurred to the society is still lingering.

One of the major damages J.R. Jayewardene did to the country was introducing his constitution which still exists today. It is clear that some parts of the constitution are not suitable at present and hinder the development of the country. I will cite you an example; according to J.R’s constitution MPs are selected not on electorate basis but on district basis.

This has many disadvantages. It wastes lot of time and money. And due to the competition, the good-will among the candidates of the same party is damaged.