Shelter for homeless, my top priority - Wimal Weerawansa
By UDITHA KUMARASINGHE
Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities
Minister Wimal Weerawansa who had built a reputation as a born orator
made lots of sacrifices towards the attempts made by the President and
the government to achieve lasting peace in the country.
Hailing from a humble stock as a person who launched his political
career from one of the country’s marxist political parties, he was quite
aware of the hardships faced by the people. President Mahinda Rajapaksa
hand-picked him to oversee four most important functions-construction,
engineering services, housing and common amenities. Minister Weerawansa
in an exclusive interview with the “Sunday Observer” outlined his future
plans to develop the four key subjects which came under his purview.
Q: As a significant milestone in your political career, this
is the first time that have been given a ministerial portfolio and that
too, of Cabinet rank. How do you feel?
A: From the start my political career was full of challenges.
I faced several challenges but I came forward. I had the courage to face
all those challenges. I have solid confidence that I would be able to
succeed. Everyone will witness this in the near future.
Q: Do you think your Ministry has the ability to render a
significant service to the country?
A: I have been given two Cabinet ministerial portfolios which
were earlier held by two different ministers. The construction and
engineering services portfolio was held by Minister Rajitha Senarathna
while the Housing and Common Amenities portfolio was held by Minister
Ferial Ashraff.
Now I have to bear the responsibility of the two Ministers. I feel
the Housing and Common Amenities Ministry can play a vital role to
overcome the ‘shelter’ problem of those who do not have a permanent
shelter.
At present there is a shortage of funds to implement its new housing
projects. In addition, the construction of houses are carried out by
different ministries. Despite all handicaps the Housing Ministry has the
capacity to render a significant service to provide permanent shelter to
low income families.
The Construction and Engineering Services Ministry can also provide
an immense service to those who have engaged in the construction
industry sector. Under this massive development drive launched by the
Government, more opportunities have been created for the construction
industry.
It is vital to create a high standard and provide necessary
guidelines to the construction industry sector. Initiatives should also
be taken to increase the Government’s share in the construction industry
sector while more opportunities should be created for the private sector
contractors within the local and foreign market as well.
The challenges before me is to successfully fulfil these
responsibilities entrusted upon me. I will try my level best to achieve
the targets of the Ministry.
Q: How does your Ministry plans to overcome the shelter
problem of low income families?
A: Provision of a house to a houseless family means that we have
fulfilled one of their key basic needs. According to “Mahinda Chinthana
Idiri Dekma”, arrangements have been made to construct 600,000 houses
for those who do not have shelter, within the next six years. It is one
of the key responsibilities given to me to reach this target. I intend
to start a national housing program to overcome the housing problem of
low income families, public servants and those who have engaged in
foreign employment and various other professions.
The main challenges faced by us is to obtain sufficient funds to
implement the housing program. At present, the most of the income gained
through “Sevana Lottery” is utilised by the Treasury. I hope to discuss
with the President to find some solution to this problem of funds to
implement this housing program. Attention will also be focused on other
avenues to collect funds and go for a massive housing program. We will
educate the public on this program within the next one and half months.
Q: How do you intend to provide shelter and other common
amenities to the people in the Northern and Eastern provinces who were
faced with severe hardships in the past due to terrorist activities?
A: The housing problem is one of the burning issues faced by
people in the North and the East. The Nation Building Ministry and
various other organisations have already commenced several housing
projects to overcome the housing problem of the people in these two
provinces. Some of those projects have been completed already and the
people have already been re-settled in their homes. My Ministry also
intends to commence a new housing program on behalf of these people. We
have to act with lots of dedication. We are fully committed to fulfil
this responsibility.
Q: What kind of contribution can be made from your Ministry to
implement “Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma” ?
A: As we all are aware, the people at the last Presidential
Election gave a resounding mandate to implement “Mahinda Chinthana Idiri
Dekma”.
At this recently concluded General Election, the people further
endorsed this mandate by giving 144 seats to the Government which is
very close to a two third majority.
The people gave all these significant victories to turn the programs
introduced by “Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma” into reality. The people
have extended their fullest cooperation to achieve the targets which has
aimed to uplift the living conditions of the people.
My Ministry has the ability to create a massive change within the
construction industry by generating new employment and new income
generation avenues. This Ministry can also take the responsibility to
give the opportunities available in the construction industry sector to
our local contractors without allowing them to go to foreign companies.
The Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma has also mentioned to go for a massive
housing program. My Ministry will definitely try its level best to meet
the targets.
Q: How do you plan to utilise the construction and engineering
services sectors towards the Government’s development drive?
A: Several State institutions which carry out the Government’s
construction work come under the purview of my Ministry. These
institutions play a vital role in the state construction industry
sector. These institutions function with a lot of difficulties due to
the competitiveness in the market.
But we should appreciate the role played by these institutions even
amidst various hardships.
I hope to handle these institutions in a manner which would help them
to gain more share than they obtained at present. It would help to
economically strengthen these institutions. Steps should also be taken
to conduct construction work via these institutions to suit the accepted
quality standards.
At present construction work on a large number of foreign funded
projects are being carried out by foreign companies. Most of the time
our local companies get only their sub contracts. But when agreements
are reached with foreign lending agencies, countries like Malaysia have
taken a policy decision that 50 percent share of the contract of that
particular construction work should be given to their local contractors.
I also hope to make a change on the construction work on these
foreign funded projects carried out here and give at least 40 percent of
the share to our local contractors. I will discuss this matter with the
President and submit my proposals to the Cabinet as well. My intention
is to provide more opportunities to our local contractors who have
engaged in the construction industry sector.
Q: What methodology will be followed by your Ministry to
provide common amenities to the people in a more systematic manner?
A: Even though ‘common amenities’ has been incorporated into
this Ministry, it doesn’t have any institutional structure to promote
common amenities at present.
The structures adopted by the ministry on this subject have declined.
Therefore I hope to add this subject to the existing structure or
formulate a new structure to promote common amenities.
At present various problems have arisen regarding the common
amenities of the people who live in flats in urban areas. The Government
has been systematically removed from the maintenance of these flats. I
hope to provide a solution to uplift the facilities of the people who
live in flats in urban areas.
Q: How do you view the decision taken by the President to
reduce the number of ministers in his Cabinet?
A: I think it is very important to reduce the number to the
present level. The people were anticipating that the President would
take more favourable decisions on behalf of the country. The people
appreciate the decision taken by the President to reduce his Cabinet. I
hope the President will make some changes in the cabinet in November
this year by considering the performance made by the relevant Ministers.
It would facilitate to make more favourable changes within the country
as expected by the people.
Q: One Minister has been given several subjects due to the
reduction in the number of the Cabinet ministers. Do you think this is
some sort of hindrance to the Ministers to perform their duties?
A: Most of the Ministers have not been given several subjects.
Only a few of them have been assigned several subjects. Even earlier
several subjects were under the purview of one particular Minister.
But they were able to achieve the targets of their respective
Ministries. It never became a big issue for any of them. |