My desire : To work for the needy - Kanaka Herath

by Jaliya Wijeyekoon

The sixth Parliament under the present constitution was dissolved and the General Election is scheduled to be held on April 8, 2010. All major parties are gathering momentum in their respective election campaigns and the Sunday Observer has sought the views of first timers in the election fray from second generation politicians.

Here are some excerpts of the interview with Kanaka Herath, the Kegalle District UPFA candidate the son of Chief Minister Mahipala Herath.

Q: You are a product of Trinity College, graduated from Royal Melbourne University and a professional engineer holding a very high position at Civil Aviation Authority in Sri Lanka. What made you give up your professional career and step into politics?

A: Well, politics is mixed in my blood from my childhood as my father was involved in politics for a very long time. When I returned to the island after completing my studies in Australia, I was appointed as the chairman of Mahipala Herath Foundation, from which point onwards I started working for the welfare of the needy people of the district.

When the election was announced my father wanted me to contest from Kegalle district with the blessings of the President and the approval of senior party stalwarts of the district. Further, party supporters of the area also made a request for my candidature. With all these I decided to come forward as a candidate.

Q: As the appointed chairman of the Mahipala Herath Foundation, have you already taken any steps for the benefit of the downtrodden people of the district?

A: Yes. We have already done a lot. Specially I have targeted the youth community of the district. We have supplied sports equipment to the youth clubs. We conduct inter sports club competitions. We give scholarships to students, we distribute school books to the needy children and help the poorest of the poor in number of ways.

Similarly from the Mahipala Herath Foundation we conduct regular health camps, distribute spectacles and assist disable people in a number of ways. We have also started constructing houses for well deserving people and three units are to be completed shortly.

Q: Kegalle District is represented by five sitting senior parliamentarians UPFA. Do you think you can compete with them and emerge victorious at the elections?

A: Well, they are not a challenge to me because my father has a solid personal vote base and further I have established a close rapport with the youth community of the district. I am quite confident of my victory.

Q: Kegalle District had been represented by party leaders like Dudley Senanayake, P. B. G. Kalugalle, Dr. N. M. Perera, Dharmasiri Senanayake and Ashoka Karunaratne in the past. But in comparison to other districts in the island Kegalle district has not been developed. What is the reason for this situation?

A: I don't like to blame any of the previous leaders for the current situation. I earnestly hope to work for the development of the district once I am elected.

Q: How is your relationship with the Opposition candidates vying for the election?

A: I always maintain a very cordial relationship with them. I have no problem at all with any of them. I treat them as personal friends though they are political rivals.

I go by my personal principles and party policies. I have instructed my supporters also not to create any conflicts with anybody and come to me for undue favours. I strongly believe that we, young politicians should make every endeavour to change the present political culture in this country.

Q: It is an accepted fact that due to the preferential voting system that there are fights even among the same party candidates. Don't you confront such unfortunate situations?

A: Fortunately so far no such incident is reported and I am confident nothing of that sort will happen to me or from me.

Q: According to electoral statistics, Kegalle district consist of a substantial percentage of minority vote. What action have you taken to garner the support of minority communities.

A: Well, I have directly targeted the Tamil votes in estates by way of helping them in various needs. I usually take part in their religious activities in kovils in estates.

I provide sports equipment such as Volleyballs, nets, cricket balls and bats to Tamil youths in estates and also we have training programs for Tamil youths in carpentry, heavy vehicles driving, backhoe loaders and masonry.

I am very positive that Kanaka Herath is a very familiar name for the estate Tamil community and they will vote for me. Unlike the Tamil community Muslims are living amongst Sinhala people in Kegalle district except for a few towns such as Mawanella and Aranayake where predominantly Muslims are inhabited.

In all our political activities from the grass roots level we accommodate Muslim youths so that I am quite sure that I will get the Muslim community support too.

Q: In the event of your victory what are your immediate plans for the benefit of the people in Kegalle district?

A: First of all I shall launch a pilot project to develop the rural infrastructure facilities of the very remote areas of the district. I have already contacted some organisations in Australia where I have personal friends and they have agreed to help me in my endeavours.