Development at faster pace in next six years - Minister Premajayantha

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

UPFA General Secretary and Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha said that after defeating terrorism under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government has entered the correct path to develop the country within the next six years. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said at present most investors in the Middle East and the Western countries are looking at Sri Lanka as a country with an emerging economy due to political stability created within the country. Rapid development can be expected under "Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma" within the next six years.

Q: How do you view the commencement of the second term of office by the President?

A: The first term, the President devoted to liberate the country from the clutches of the LTTE. Even before the first term ended, he kept his promises given at the first Presidential Election and put an end to terrorism. At the same time, President started the economic development of the country. That is why we started the first firing of Norochcholai coal power plant on Wednesday which will generate 300 MW within the next few weeks. In addition, President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the first ever harbour built after 500 years. No harbour has been built during the past 500 years. In this modern world, President Rajapaksa is the only Leader who sticks to his promises. He started the construction of Hambantota harbour with the help of the Chinese Government three years ago. He opened it on Thursday. The second phase of the harbour was also started on Thursday. Several mega irrigation projects such as Upper Kothmale and Moragahakanda were also commissioned. Steps were also taken to develop the road network.

Therefore after defeating terrorism , we are on the correct path to develop the country within the next six years. With that background the President started his second term on November 19 as the Executive President of the country. Politically also we have a very stable situation. Of the nine Provincial Councils, eight are under the UPFA. They will exist for the next four years. Some of these PCs have a more than two third majority. For the first time in history after introduction of the PR system by the 1978 constitution, we have a two third majority in Parliament. The SLMC MPs will also sit with the ruling party from November 22. We have a very strong Parliament not only in numbers.

The ruling coalition represents all the communities. Therefore we have two thirds majority in the legislative as well. We can tell the international community to look at the very stable Government in Sri Lanka. The President can go ahead in the next six years without any interruption.

According to the 18th amendment to the Constitution, the President can contest for a third term and go before the people if he wishes.

There will be no challenge to the President for the next six years. That is what we need at the moment. After the defeat of terrorism, we need a stable Government to develop the country. Sri Lanka has turned into an emerging economy in the international arena. Most of the Western countries are now looking at the Eastern parts of the world. Many countries in the Eastern part of the world such as China, India, Malaysia and Vietnam are developing very rapidly. Most of the investors in the Middle East and the West are now looking at Asia and the Eastern part of the globe. They find Sri Lanka a country with an emerging economy. We have a lot of potential with a high literacy rate, stable Government and a country free from terrorism.

We have provided electricity to 85 percent of consumers so far. We would be able to provide electricity to more than 95 percent people within the next few years. In the petroleum sector, the company entrusted for oil exploration will start drilling in May. There is a possibility of getting either oil or natural gas. These are some resources that we need at the moment to develop the country. Towards the end of the war, we had US$ 1.2 billion foreign reserves. Now we have more than US$ 7 billion. Our foreign exchange situation is also very stable. Our road network, telecommunication and power sectors are also developing rapidly. As a result, investors come here with confidence on the leadership and the people of Sri Lanka. Our target is to double the per capita income within the next five years. The target can be achieved if we all get together and work towards it.

Q: What kind of development programs have been designed for implementation in the second term of the President under Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma?

A: Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma is a vision. We have explained it during our election campaign in 2010. We have already started the construction of the second international airport at Maththala and the development of Bandaranaike International Airport. We are to develop Kankasanthurai, Ampara and China Bay and Weerawila airports for domestic purposes. We are also in the process of developing economic hubs, naval hubs, space, a knowledge society and IT literacy rates at school level. With the development of Hambantota and Colombo ports, they can attract hundreds of ships. Hambantota will be a free port. The investors and the business people can treat this port as a hub and store which would be very easy for them for their trading. We can expect rapid development in the country under Mahinda Chinthanaya within the next few years.

Q: What do you think significant victories achieved during the President's first term?

A: Number one was to successfully end the war against the LTTE. It was a great achievement for us. Still some countries have not been able to defeat terrorism even with sophisticated weapons, manpower and modern techniques. Under the leadership of the President, we won the war against the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world without any of these facilities. Second key achievement is the political stability created in the country within the past five years. These are the main two factors that will affect the development program for the next six years.

Q: Do you see any significance in President Rajapaksa's leadership when compared with former leaders of both UNP and SLFP?

A: There can be no argument. The leadership of President Rajapaksa is significant when compared with other leaders who led the country in the recent past. Under the bold leadership of the President, we defeated terrorism. As I said earlier, all the communities and political parties got together. That is also for the first time that all these communities are getting together. Nearly half of the UNP Leaders are with the Government now. More than half of the Cabinet of the former UNP Government is now in the UPFA Government. The leadership qualities of the President are unique when compared with former leaders.

Q: As General Secretary how do you view the leadership given by the President to the UPFA?

A: Under the leadership of the President, more than 30 political parties rallied round the UPFA banner at the last Presidential, General and Provincial Council elections. That is why we managed to get close to two thirds at the General Election. After the General election,now we have more than a two third majority in Parliament. According to the 1978 constitution and the PR system, we could achieve a historic victory under the leadership of the President.

Q: The SLMC also joined the Government. Will more Opposition MPs join the Government after the budget?

A: There is a talk that many Opposition MPs are also willing to join the Government. But even without joining the Government they can support it. At the moment the Government side is overflowing.

Q: There is a rumour that some seniors of the Government are disappointed as the Opposition MPs who crossed over to the Government are to be given key ministerial portfolios. is there any truth in this allegation?

A: I don't think so, the President is well aware of the support given by the senior SLFP politicians at his first and second Presidential Elections.

Q: Why did the Government decide to celebrate the second term of the President on a grand scale? There are allegations that it is a waste of public funds?

A: If you compare the previous occasions, we are not wasting money. For an example, this is a one week program. We started with planting 1.1 million plants but it exceeded the target. The people actively participated in that event. Once we grow a plant, we can't expect fruits. It will take some time. In future, we would be able to see the results of this tree planting campaign. The Nidahasa exhibition commenced at Independence Square is very useful for our youth, schoolchildren and the public. In the past, we could not have exhibitions like that. We have been able to conduct exhibitions and other cultural events till midnight without any difficulty. We started the first firing of Norochcholai coal power plant and declared opened Hambantota harbour. This is not a wastage of public funds. The political parties of the UPFA and the SLFP organisers organised the events to mark the President taking oaths for his second term on November 19. Only the official part of that ceremony was organised by the Government. There is no wastage of money.

Q: How do you view the commencement of the Norochcholai coal power plant and the opening of Hambantota harbour?

A: Those are landmarks. It is the first time that we are experiencing a coal power plant. We were talking about coal power plants and Hambantota harbour for more than two decades. Those were dreams for our people. With the Norochcholai coal power plant, we are adding 300 MW to the national grid at a lesser rate of what we are paying for power generation from oil. When we go for the second and third stages, we can do away with some power generators which are running with furnace oil. We can cut costs and that benefit will go to the people. With rapid development, there will be demand for power. We should be in a position to supply power. In mid 1990s there were five six hour power cuts.

After the President took over the CEB has not made a single power cut. In future, there won't be power cuts. Still some of the countries in the region impose power cuts.

All our Ministries work with short,medium and long-term plans.

Hambantota harbour is a landmark. More than 300 ships pass by Hambantota at a distance of about six kilometres. If we can attract 10 percent of those ships, we can earn more than Rs. 50,000 million per year. That is our target. Once we complete the second and third phases of the harbour, we can definitely reach target.

Q: What is the progress of the oil exploration activities taking place in Sri Lanka?

A: Cairns Company Ltd will start their drilling in May. The next round of bidding will be announced soon. Oil exploration is not an easy exercise. It will take some years even, like in other countries. We don't have technical know-how. So we are following the international standards. When we call tenders and sign agreements, we also follow those standards and international law. With the first drilling of the Mannar basin in May, we will see what we get from it.

Q: What is the main purpose of the Government taking over Shell?

A:Shell was owned by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation some times back and then the Government decided to sell the business to Shell for nearly US$ 38 million. Shell Gas has taken a policy decision to give up the LP gas business not only in Sri Lanka but also in other countries in the region as well. As a result, they were about to sell it. Then the Government decided to purchase 51 percent shares. Earlier the Government owned 49 percent shares. The Government bought the balance 51 percent shares with the funding of the Insurance Corporation, government banks. At present there is interim management. The Government would take steps to run it as a viable project to give relief to the people.

Q: Does the Government have plans to bring down fuel prices before or after the budget?

A: We will maintain the same rate for another year. We did not revise fuel prices with the fluctuation of oil prices in the international market. World oil prices are in a little bit of upward trend compared to the past two or three months. But not like in year 2008 or 2009. At present, a barrel of crude oil is nearly US$ 86. We are contacting oil producing and oil trading countries through our diplomatic channels and to have a Government to Government (G to G) trading. If we can do G to G trading for one, three years, we can get oil at a lower rate than what we are purchasing. With G to G, we can get oil at a lower rate and pass that benefit to the people. It will take at least another two or three months.

Q: What are the Government's plans to resolve the problems faced by the Northern people in the coming six years?

A: The Northern part of the island is getting more funds than the other parts of the island. The Government has already planned to reconstruct the A-9 Road beyond Omanthai. Up to Omanthai it is a carpeted road now. We have done the railway track also. The Government with the support of India and China will construct the railway track from Medawachchiya to Mannar and from Omanthi to Kankesanthurai. The Government will open the Sangupity jetty for public transportation in the A-32 Road as an alternative for the A-9 Road. At present, there is another route approaching from Trincomalee towards Pulmudai, Mullaitivu to Jaffna.

Then there will be three main roads. Once we complete the railway track also, Jaffna people can come to Colombo in five to six hours. It will also be easy to transport fruits, vegetables and fish. At the moment, Jaffna's people work very hard and engage in their agricultural activities. Now they are getting modern technology as well. Every Ministry has a plan to develop the Northern Province. Definitely Northern people are the main beneficiaries of this development.