Despite political differences:

Upcountry political parties with UPFA

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

The UPFA candidate P. Rathakrishnan from the Colombo district said that it's significant to note that all political parties upcountry have joined hands in supporting the UPFA despite their political differences. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has won the hearts and minds of the minorities in the country by addressing their grievances.

Here are excerpts of the interview:

Q: How do you see yourself as a UPFA candidate?

A: I am very happy and proud to be part of the United People's Freedom Alliance. I am very confident that the party would have a healthy victory at the forthcoming parliamentary polls. Our party has confidence in the President. He has proved himself a leader of unity and integrity. He stands tall above all petty differences. Therefore, I am happy to be part of the UPFA team and I believe that I could do more for the people whom I represent.

Q: The late Upcountry Front leader P. Chandrasekeran had tremendous confidence in President Rajapaksa. How do you view it?

A: I would say that the relationship between my late party leader P. Chandrasekeran and President Rajapaksa was very significant in many ways. Both leaders understood each other very well. Whatever the issues Chandrasekeran handled them boldly as well as cleverly without antagonising Government leaders. Even before his death Chandrasekeran pledged his support without any reservation for President Rajapaksa during the presidential polls. On the other hand President Rajapaksa also liked Chandrasekeran a great deal for his integrity. Therefore, the relationship between President Rajapaksa and Chandrasekeran paved the way for several healthy developments with regard to the living conditions of the upcountry masses.

Q: What is your impression on the services rendered by the UPFA Government towards the upcountry people?

A:The services rendered by the UPFA Government to the people upcountry were remarkable. In the Budget of 2009. Rs. 2 billion was allocated entirely for the uplift of the living conditions of people upcountry.

Roads which were in a dilapidated condition in several parts of the hill country are now being reconstructed with concrete. The standards of hospitals and schools have been upgraded.

The President has also taken the initiative to set up a university in Nuwara Eliya for students upcountry who are doing well in their higher studies in recent years. So the overall concern of the Government towards the people, upcountry is genuine and promising.

Q: Being a candidate from Colombo what are your priorities?

A: Well, I am contesting the polls in a cosmopolitan background in Colombo. So I have to address the grievances of all communities in my constituency. Particularly those who have come from the North, East and upcountry to live in Colombo. When the conflict situation prevailed in the country hundreds of young men and women were taken into custody. I managed to release around thousand of them by taking up the matter with the President. The President and other higher officials stood by me in releasing them.

There are several youngsters upcountry serving in various shops and boutiques in Colombo. Most of them do not have voting rights. Therefore, I have taken measures to deal with this issue.

The President launched a plan last month to look into the shortcomings of shanty dwellers. It is a mega project as people of all communities are dwelling in the shanties of Colombo and suburbs. I will be assisting the under served with the resources available.

Q: Unlike in the past almost all political parties upcountry have taken a common stance in supporting the Rajapaksa Government despite their differences. What is your comment on this stance?

A: Yes, the common approach of all upcountry political parties in supporting the President shows the tremendous confidence they have the leadership of the President irrespective of their political differences. Of course, unlike in the past almost all leading political parties upcountry have joined hands to stabilise the Rajapaksa Government. They expect the UPFA Government to return to power to continue with its good work towards the upcountry people.

Q: What is your view on the post-war situation?

A: Without leaving room for delays, President Rajapaksa had got into action to serve the civilians who were ravaged by war. The post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction activities have gathered momentum in the North and the East. IDPs are currently being resettled in their original places. Several infrastructure schemes have been put in place to enhance the living conditions of the people who had undergone the agony of the three decades of conflict in the North and East.

With the reopening of the A-9 highway plenty of interaction between the North and the South is taking place. The UPFA leadership succeeded in ending the conflict situation in the North and the East. Whereas I believe the UPFA will continue to serve successfully in bridging the North and the East economically and politically once it wins the forthcoming polls.

Q: What is your view on the Tamil National Alliance?

A: The TNA has to play a very meaningful role in dealing with the issues of its people. The past three decades of Tamil politics have destabilised the lives of the people in the North and the East in every sphere. Therefore, the TNA must act with a new political approach not only to fulfil the political aspirations of the Tamils but also to rebuild the war-torn North and East economically.

Unlike the leaders in the past President Rajapaksa who has succeeded in ending the conflict is now determined to solve the political issues amicably. Hence the TNA instead of treading a warpath, must settle the issues by taking a positive approach.

Q: How do you see the international community's stance with regard to the country's internal issues?

A: The international community must render a helping hand in stabilising peace in the country. The entire country had to suffer for about three decades to end the conflict in the country. Within a short period since the conflict ended last year, there are signs of the country's economy being on a good footing.

The Government has launched several plans to spearhead development activities. Therefore, the international community must interact positively with the Lankan leaders towards removing the scars of conflict and paving the way towards the growth of the island nation.Along with the international community Lankan expatriates should also play their part in the post-war development activities.

Q: What is your opinion on India's role in Lanka's internal issues?

A: India is our immediate neighbour. When our country was in conflict, India stood by us and supported in the humanitarian issues. Our political leaders are in consultation with India whenever a crisis situation arises. Therefore, India must play an active role in the future to see that its little neighbour lives in peace.