UPFA victory, no doubt about it in Gampaha - Chandana Jayakody

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

A considerable number has entered the fray with a strong political background in the family. Sunday Observer spoke to UPFA Gampaha district candidate Chandana Jayakody, son of senior politician Luxman Jayakody. Here are the excerpts of the interview:

Q: How is your election campaign?

A: It is progressing successfully and peacefully. We have not faced any sort of problems so far and we can assure the UPFA is going to gain a landslide victory at this general election in the Gampaha district.

Q: We are in the last few days of the election campaign. How do you describe the preference among your people?

A: We see a very high preference. In my view the UPFA is sure to gain 67% - 70% of the votes in our area. In the recent at the Presidential Elections we won, maintaining a lead of 280,000 votes. In the Gampaha district 718,000 people voted for President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Today, majority of active supporters of the United National Party in the Divulapitiya electorate have joined me to support for a victory of the UPFA. Divulapitiya electorate won the Presidential Elections with 19,726 more votes. So this time we assure 25,000 - 28,000 votes in this General Elections for the UPFA.

Q: As the candidates have to `fight' against each other to gain more preferential votes, violence tend to erupt during General Elections. How will you maintain a violence free election in your campaign?

A: We do not anticipate any sort of violence. Just because we do not have a strong Opposition we are not facing any such violent actions that would usually starts with the Opposition. Few incidents were reported but those were of very minor nature. The contest for more preferential votes does create a tense situation within the party and therefore it has now become necessary to change this preferential system.

Q: What have you done to maintain discipline and non-violence within your team of supporters?

A: Compared to other electoral seats in the Gampaha district, Divulapitiya is a very rural area. Almost all the people are villagers with less interaction with highly urbanized societies. These people, since early days, have worked abstaining violence. Acting violently has not been the practice of our supporters. Thus, we prefer a totally violent free election campaign and we restrict ourselves to this concept.

Q: What are the problems you have identified in the Divulapitiya electorate?

A: Divulapitiya is the largest of DS Divisions. As a result we find a large number of roads - which are mainly rural roads. Approximately for six years I have been a Provincial Councillor and during these years I was able to start many projects to reconstruct and repair these roads which were in very poor condition. It is a key requirement for the people of the area. Those roads supervised under the Pradeshiya Sabha need more attention. As the area is more in the Divulapitiya Electorate the Pradeshiya Sabha has to look after a large number of roads. This electorate does not get a huge sum by collecting the taxes. Therefore, after this election, with under the guidance of Basil Rajapaksa we intend to bring about a sustainable solution to the problem of inadequate road network.

Q: Do you mean to say appointing Basil Rajapaksa as the Gampaha district leader of the UPFA has acted as a catalyst for the overall development of the district?

A: Definitely. Under his leadership we were able to accelerate the development work. His leadership is a great strength to all of us. His directions gave us the guidance to start development programs and that we have started with the re-construction and repair work of the road network.

Q: What are the main problems?

A: The two most common problems of these areas are the lack of drinking water and inadequate access roads. Especially because the imbalance of the underground water resources the water levels tend to drop fast. These problems need to be addressed on a long term basis.

For nearly 33 years we lacked proper Parliament representation in the ruling party thus creating a deficiency in financial allocations. We did not receive the Normal monetary allocation made per year to a Parliamentarian for the development works. Yet in the recent times with the initiation of 'Gama Neguma', 'Maga Neguma' projects we are being able to fill the development gaps that were created in the past.

Q: How would you explain your political carrier?

A: I was elected twice as a Provincial Councillor. My father, Luxman Jayakody, who has been known as a gentleman politician greatly influenced me. He is one of the very few very senior politicians. He carried a massive development task in this electorate during his time.

Q: What is you pledge to your people? Is it to carry out the service your father started or to take one step further and bring an innovative approach?

A: I will definitely strictly reserve to the gentleman concepts of my father's political life but considering the development work it has to be innovative to suit the modern day demands. Today the world has changed and it will continue to do so. Under any circumstances I will bring the best for my people.

Q: How is the Opposition faring in the area?

A: Very weak. Today many former UNP Provincial Councillors have joined us. Many active UNP members are with us. Hardly we see any rallies. Solely due to its own clashes within the party the United National Party is loosing the ground.

Q: As a young politician how do you see the future?

A: The electoral system should change. The Preferential System must end. That is why we request a majority in power. For this area we greatly need employment generating ventures to meet the demands of the youth. The development work is progressing so we should focus on to generate more jobs.