People waiting to express their gratitude - Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

by Indika POLKOTUWA

All indications are that the UPFA will record a convincing victory at the forthcoming General Election. Achieving a two third majority of seats in the next Parliament will not be difficult when you consider the results of the last Presidential Election. The President gained 58 percent of the votes cast at the Presidential election. Ten to 12 percent additional votes at the General Election would ensure a two third majority.

This is achievable because many sections of the people who failed to vote UPFA last time are waiting to support the UPFA this time and perform their duty by the Motherland. Added to this many more disgruntled elements in the UNP, JVP and other Opposition parties are also waiting to support the UPFA and strengthen the hands of the President by giving him a strong Parliament to accelerate development, said Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister, Government Defence Spokesman and Kandy District UPFA Candidate Keheliya Rambukwella in an interview with the Daily News.

Here are some excerpts of the interview:

Q: How do you describe the forthcoming General Election?

A: Despite the false propaganda carried out by certain Opposition forces a grateful people re-elected the President at the recent elections with a 58 percent of the total votes cast. A large section of the people who could not perform their duty by the Motherland then are now joining hands with the Government to ensure a more convincing victory at the General Election.

The UNP or the JVP is no threat to us because they are contesting the election for the sake of contesting it.

Q: The Opposition says the government is not keen to change the Constitution but using it as a gimmick to deceive the people and obtain their votes.

A: Opposition parties are well aware that the government is poised for a historic win at the General Election. So they are concocting various stories to prevent such a victory for the UPFA. The JR Constitution had been a curse on the country and its people. Definitely it needs to be changed.

Q: The Opposition says it will never allow the Government party to obtain a two-thirds majority. Will the Opposition succeed in its aim?

A: The statements made to this effect by the Opposition itself proves that it had already conceded defeat. They should understand that it is the patriotic people who take decisions in the national interest rather than the UNP and JVP elements which have been relegated to the political dustbin.

Q: The UNP is contesting the election under the Elephant symbol. Won’t it pose a threat to the UPFA intentions?

A: The UNP leadership can never correct the wrong it did by shelving the party symbol last time.

Genuine UNPers are still detesting the leadership for the crime committed in giving up the party symbol. So it is doubtful whether those disgruntled UNPers would rally round to vote for the party this time.

Q: Another Opposition allegation is that the Government is trying to win elections by harping on the war victory because it had no other topic to talk about to win elections.

A: We are never trying to sell the war victory to win votes. However the war victory is a great victory which the people will not forget for a long time. What we need to do now is to make a united effort to develop the country.

Q: Although the Government claims that the UNP and the JVP are in disarray they deny that claim and say that they are more vigorous and powerful than before. What have you to say about it?

A: It is not the Government but the general public who say that those two parties have lost their power base and lost their prestige. The people have expressed this view through the exercise of their ballot at successive elections.