Constitutional changes vital:

Two-thirds majority assured for UPFA Govt-Minister Seneviratne

by Amal HEWAVISSENTI

W.D.J. Seneviratne is the Minister of Power and Energy, the former Member of Parliament for Ratnapura district, and the district leader for Ratnapura. He has transformed the traditional political landscape of Ratnapura by introducing a trend for a new political culture that set an example for many others to follow.

Moreover, he is noted for having made judgements based on a broadly focused vision of the political ethos of the country. The following are some of the excerpts of the interview the Sunday Observer had with him:

Q: The trend of lawyers joining the political mainstream is not new. You too are not an exception. Can you briefly outline your background and education? How did your background help sharpen you into what you are today?

A: Honestly speaking, I had a certain type of political background in my home. So, from childhood, I was exposed to the realities which provided and developed a political insight in me. I received my early education at Gankanda Maha Vidyalaya, Pelmadulla. I must tell you that my first school paved the way for my success. Then I entered Thakshila Maha Vidyalaya for my O/Levels in the English medium. After successful completion of my O/Levels, I entered Aquinas University College to pursue my higher studies. While I was at Aquinas University College, I got an appointment as a teacher of English at a government school.

Q: That seems to have been a significant turnaround in your life. How far did it imprint your later moves?

A: Well, yes. While I was at Aquinas University College, I was teaching English at a government school for a short time. This was a novel experience for me. It is here that I got the basic inspiration for developing education in the country. While there I saw the hardships that rural children faced without the basic infrastructure. Meanwhile, I managed to enter Law College. I passed out as an advocate and started practising in my hometown, Ratnapura.

Political breakthrough

Q: Your education in the field of law must have contributed much to develop your flair for politics. How did you make your political breakthrough?

A: While I was practising as a lawyer, I became interested in active politics. Earlier, when I was studying at Horana Thakshila, I actively participated in student organisations. This gave me considerable drive to move forward in politics. I contested the 1989 general election from Ratnapura.

As I told you earlier, from childhood, I was extremely interested in becoming a politician. At the same time I was resolved to become a lawyer by enrolling at Law College. My father, being a village politician, who was the Vice Chairman for Pelmadulla Gamsabha, inspired me much with his political thinking.

At the same time, I was involved in social work and politics throughout the district. Thus, my involvement in social work and political activity earned me a considerable degree of popularity. In 1989, I contested the general election from Ratnapura. By this time, I had a certain degree of experience through my work as an organiser for the Pelmadulla and Nivithigala seats.

Q: You contested the general election under highly unfavourable conditions for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. How did you overcome the challenges?

A: Yes, I contested the election during the violent period. However, I emerged second in the list. Second in position to Nanda Ellawala, a powerful political figure who fought the principles of the then UNP government tooth and nail.

Even while I was in the Opposition, I did my level best to upgrade the living conditions of people. I made a lot of effort to provide infrastructure within the district. With the Rs. 2.5 million allocated to me by the government, I had to deal with the challenging task of launching development projects especially in rural areas. Meanwhile, I managed to get more funds from the then national list MP, S.E.B. Perera. President R. Premadasa commended me for providing electricity to rural areas which had extremely poor facilities at that time. This way, I was able to provide vital infrastructure to the rural areas though we, as the Opposition, were completely out of funds.

Historic government

Q: This was the first landmark in your political career. With the landslide victory of the People's Alliance in 1994, what was your functional role in the subsequent government?

A: We made our historic government in 1994. I became the Deputy Minister of Education and did much to uplift the educational standard in the country. After that I became the Minister of Labour. Under this ministerial post I was able to fight the unemployment problem which is a major barrier to development. I also inaugurated a fundamental agreement to be signed by the employer and employee.

Q: Could you further elaborate on your role in helping solve the unemployment problem? How did you minimise the vast gap between employer and employee?

A: As you can see, the employee or unemployed often have to pursue the employer. However qualified the employee is, the employer decides everything. Under my new concept, this process has been reversed. I have created more career opportunities in which the employer is forced to go after employees. That is the basic difference.

Apart from that, I'm proud to say that I have sent a higher number of people to the Middle East as housemaids. This is a giant step forward in fighting the unemployment problem. Earlier, there were many unfortunate incidents regarding housemaids. Most often they were brutally harassed, injured, assaulted and even murdered by their employers in the Middle East. Sri Lankans employed in the Middle East faced many problems. I took measures to prevent this dangerous and pathetic situation. I took every precaution possible against such situations. I also ensured that they receive enough funds. I introduced a welfare system for those people.

Q: What type of intervention did you make to minimise the tragedies that involve Sri Lankan employees, specially domestic workers in the Middle East?

A: As the Minister of Labour, I have taken steps to provide funds for domestic workers. This was done through an agreement with the employers of the foreign country. In this way, assistance is granted to those domestic workers who are the victims of various unfortunate incidents abroad. With the introduction of this welfare program, they are given much relief. This is funded by the employers in foreign countries. I have also sent a large number of youth to Korea for employment opportunities.

Developing Ratnapura

Q: What plans come topmost on your agenda to develop the district?

A: Though Ratnapura is famous for gems, the majority of people here are very poor. I hope to uplift the standard of the gem industry further. Thereby we can create more employment opportunities. We must make the most of the power and strengths of the youth towards the country's development.

The educational and infrastructure level of the district is very poor. From my tenure as the Deputy Minister of Education, I have formulated policies to improve the educational standard of the people. Measures have already been taken to redevelop the network of roads.

Under the concept of "Semata Viduliya", I have been able to supply electricity to most of the extremely rural areas. As the Minister of Power and Energy, I hope to provide electricity to at least 95 percent of the population. When I became the Minister of Power and Energy, electricity was available to only 50 percent of the population. But now the electricity consumption has risen to 75 percent of the population. Now my plan is to provide electricity to 90 - 95 percent of the population within a short period of time.

Q: What do you think about the possibility of the UPFA government securing a two-thirds majority at the upcoming general election?

A: Though we as the UPFA government have always secured a large majority of votes, only six members out of ten have been elected under the current electoral system. This happens under the PR system. With the current enthusiasm, political upheavals and the encouragement received from Provincial Council victories, I am highly confident that the UPFA government will easily secure a two-thirds majority. I think seven out of our ten members will get elected. People will give a clear mandate to our President to make vital changes to remove the barriers for development.

Q: There is a common tendency among members of the same party to fight for preferential votes. This is a highly detrimental trend which was even criticised by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. How is the electoral atmosphere prevailing in your district?

A: This is perfectly true. The Proportional Representation system has led to split-ups in political parties, bringing about unending trouble within parties. Under this electoral system, such conflicts are inevitable. But a perfectly calm atmosphere is being maintained as far as election campaigns are concerned. There is no problem at all between me and my fellow candidates regarding who wins the largest number of preferential votes. We have a mutual understanding about how the election machinery works.

Now that the Opposition is totally ineffective and lethargic we do not have any doubts regarding the electoral victory of the UPFA. However, I'm of the strong view that competitions, or struggles for preferential votes within the same party must be kept at a minimal level. Otherwise, these conflicts will make the record-breaking victory of the UPFA unimportant and invalid. We must extend our collective strength to our President and contribute our share to make Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia as the Mahinda Chinthana spells out.

Development projects

Q: How do you view the government's plans following the general election?

A: With the two thirds majority in hand, the government will definitely launch massive development projects. The Mahinda Chinthana - 2010 The Vision Ahead will be our ideal archetype in this venture. President Rajapaksa has defined the full development scope in his concepts. The President has been unprecedentedly strengthened by the people during the presidential election. Now he wants a strong and effective Cabinet to assist him in his mission to make Sri Lanka the wonder of Asia.

The government is of the strong resolution that Constitutional changes must be brought about to abolish the current electoral system. The preferential voting system creates antipathy and hostility among the candidates of the same party. Apart from that the government is considering changes to the Local Government and Provincial Council system.

Q: What is your message to the voters?

A: Well .... We are now enjoying perfect freedom and a peaceful atmosphere because President Rajapaksa ended the war. The people gave him a clear mandate for that. I ask the UNPers to join the political current of the country. Then they can contribute their share to the overall development of the country.