I always fight against injustice - Dr. Mervyn Silva

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

'Mervyn Silva' is a household name that became popular for his bold statements and also for his alleged involvements, mostly in attacking media personnel.

But Labour Minister Dr. Mervyn Silva said this time he has renewed his fight. He is now battling against manape (preferential vote system). He said manape has forced the politicians to be at the mercy of businessmen.

"It is really a 'fight' that needs lots of money and I want to abolish manape", he told the Sunday Observer at his office cum shrine room where Buddha, God Shiva, God Vishnu and Jesus are worshipped.

'In his busy schedule - the getting ready to perform the last rites to his 88-year-old mother, who died on Thursday night while spearheading his campaign for manape, he said under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa gaining two third majority at the forthcoming election was an easy task.

"This government has defeated the ruthless terrorism while driving the country towards development. People have now realised the truth. The Opposition always has its day-dreams. Their dreams will not come true. The government is fully confident of wining this election", he said.

Minister Silva said that he was satisfied with his service to the people of Kelaniya and his future task was to join President's brother Basil Rajapaksa to make Gampaha the best district in the country.

Following are the excerpts of the interview:

Q: Election is the time for giving plenty of promises but soon after the election many of those promises turned into broken ones. What have you promised for the people of Kelaniya?

A: I am a man who transforms promises into reality. Like the Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe I don't give false promises. I don't want to promise any thing that I cannot achieve. I want to give practical solutions for their problems. I completed my three years of service in the Kelaniya electorate on my birthday on March 25. I am proud to say I have done lots of work in the electorate during that short period. People can see the progress very clearly. Only seven roads are remaining to be completed after April 8.

No development work is left for other politicians to complete. I did not publicize some of the important work done by me in the Kelaniya electorate. I rendered a silent service. The 'Kotha' of the ancient Kelaniya Vihara was gold plated, a Buddha Statue was built and Kovil for God Vishnu was built by me. But I am not boasting of my achievements.

I took action to close down butcheries in Kelaniya, which is one of the sacred towns in the country. Buddha visited Kelaniya thrice and we cannot allow such type business to thrive in these holy land.

There were six to seven butcheries which I opposed strongly. I asked the owners to close down butcheries several times but finally I chased them away. That is my nature. First I asked them politely but when they pay no heed I used "my way of doing things".

Q: The Opposition claims that the UPFA cannot win if there is a free and fair election. What do you have to say?

A: According to the Opposition, a free and fair election means allowing them to have free polls campaign while hands of the UPFA candidates are tied. All elections under UPFA Government were free and fair. No one can disprove this truth. All polling cards are sent by post, there are polling booth agents from all political parties and the Election Commissioner enforces tough rules and regulations in each and every election. With all these measures no one can blame the government for rigging votes. The Opposition fully uses the print and electronic media in their polls campaign.

Throughout the history, all the political parties after defeat throw the same allegation on the ruling party saying that the election is not free and fair. This is the phenomena world over!

Q: The Opposition predicts that the government cannot gain two third majority at this election. How true is this?

A: The predictions of the Opposition Leader have always gone down the drains. How can he make predictions for the country when he cannot predict his own future? That is why he has become an utter failure today.

He predicted that the war against the LTTE could not win. But the government proved the opposite of it. He also claimed that the country could not be developed while fighting a war. But the government achieved all its development goals.

This is the first time in its recent history the country got a leader like President Mahinda Rajapaksa. I say he is the only brave and honest leader we got after the King Parakramabahu the sixth.

Under his leadership gaining two third majority is an easy task and the Opposition will surely suffer a great defeat. There is no future for the Opposition now! It is in total mess. It is facing the worst ever period in its history.

Q: You mentioned about building religious places in your electorate but are you satisfied with what you have done for the people to help solve their day-to-day problems?

A: There is no need for me boast of what I have done. People know better. When I took over Kelaniya, most of the areas were flooded even after a slight shower. The drainage systems were channelled through houses. People suffered a lot.

We regularly cleared the drainage network and also constructed new sewerage systems. New bus stands and shopping complexes are under construction. A hospital was renovated. I have created new job opportunities. What else the people want me to do in Kelaniya electorate? I am satisfied with what I have done to develop the area.

Q: You said that there is nothing more to do in Kelaniya. Therefore after April 9 what have you planned for your people?

A: The only remaining tasks are two industrial zones, a hospital like Sri Jayawardenapura and a prominent school similar to Royal College. After that I shall join UPFA district leader Basil Rajapaksa to develop the Gampaha district.

I am a person who challenge the challengers! I want to do things properly. I will do my best after April 9 to complete my remaining tasks.

Q: Your name was dragged in most of the cases like assaulting media personnel. Can you deny your involvement in these cases?

A: You have to ask this question from those who connected me to those incidents. I know people like to connect my name to these incidents but I am not afraid. No one can stop me when there is an injustice! I don't want to comment on this issue further but if there is an injustice I will definitely react. I will react strongly when people try to tarnish the image of the country or Buddhism!

Q: Don't you think the image you have projected would prevent you from getting the manape?

A: I don't bother about manape. My country comes first more than manape. Most of the politicians run after manape and they don't want to think of the country. I will naturally react if everyone tries to do any harm to the country.

Q: How do you view your future politics under the UPFA district leadership of Basil Rajapaksa?

A: He is strength for me. We both are from the South. I think we can do lots of work to develop the district and eventually the entire country.

Q: Will this jumbo Cabinet be reduced in the next Parliament ?

A: Yes, it is one priority of the government. The Cabinet will be reduced greatly.

Q: Will you support to abolish manape?

A: Yes, definitely I will be the first to raise my hand against manape. Politicians lose many thing when they are in the battle to get more manape.

Therefore this system should be abolished. Under this system politicians are forced to be at the mercy of businessmen! Politicians need the businessmen to be in the system as they need them to spend huge sums of money to get more manape for them.

Q: Willingly or unwillingly you are now caught in this manape. How can you escape this system if you want to get more manape?

A: I can not escape the system. I have used every propaganda tool to get manape in the forthcoming election. That is why I want to abolish ape.