I am a people-friendly Minister - Dr. Mervyn Silva

By Shanika Sriyananda

If you meet a beggar or a woman or a tough-looking character who is inquisitive about your ‘problems’, don’t think twice, the person will most probably be Dr. Mervyn Silva.

Be it an issue of poor infrastructure facilities or a employment dispute or a delay of an inquiry or even a matrimonial issue he will be there to provide an immediate remedy.

Being the country’s first ever Minister of Public Relations and Public Affairs, Dr. Mervyn Silva said he was proud of holding a Ministerial portfolio similar to that of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and would step on the road in disguise to solve the people’s burning problems, soon.

But he cautioned the authorities against their deliberate delays in solving people’s problems and if they continue to do so he would expose their identities in the Parliament.

“It I see someone going against the social norms I will react as Mervyn Silva and bring him before the law”, he said.

In an interview with Sunday Observer, Minister Silva calling upon the public to rally round President Mahinda Rajapaksa to develop the country, said he would serve the people without any determination.

“I will do my best for the people as I am a people friendly Minister”, he said.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: You have been assigned a ‘brand new’ Ministry. How do you define your task?

A: This is a portfolio similar to the Ministry held by Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. This is something in which I gained expertise since my childhood. The subject - public relations- is in my blood. The President knows my capabilities well as I too hail from his village. Since his father’s era, where my father was involved in politics, he knows about me.

That is why the President appointed me for this portfolio. He appointed a person who loves people, knows their heart-beat, mingles with them, has clean hands and also will take tough action against wrong-doers as the Minister.

Even today I went to a village in Galigamuwa. The road called Gattiyamulla road was in a dire condition. People flocked around me. You don’t believe that the road was not renovated for ages. The Villagers said none of the politicians took notice to give them good road facilities. They said they remained SLFPers throughout their lives and when complained to the authorities about the condition of the road, they were announced that the matter was receiving attention. Some claimed the authorities neglected their plight and ill treated them due to the caste problem.

I said, I belong to ‘Buddhist caste’ and promised to look into their plight soon. I don’t mind any caste or creed or party. I only respect decency on the part of the people. When I am serving people all are equal to me. I am a Minister free of party politics.

President Rajapaksa wants all people to be Sri Lankans in a united country and we all should work on this line of thought without creating divisions. This will help develop the country to achieve the final goal, becoming the Wonder of Asia.

Q: What do you think are the challenges in this new task?

A: I didn’t have challenges since my childhood. I did what ever the correct thing and also did my best to achieve my goals. Challenges are not challenges for me!

Q: I mean the challenges in serving people and the tasks given in the new field.

A: That is why I said there are no challenges for me. I am challenging the challenges! Even in this new Ministerial portfolio I see no challenges. This is a field where I am already engaged in. I will do my best to the people and I am a people friendly Minister.

I even solve the social disputes such as matrimonial disputes, domestic violence, child abuse, child labour. Through my experience I know most of these problems can be solved not through praying for Gods or violence but by friendly discussions. I will intervene in these disputes and solve them if they are referred to me.

Q: ‘Minister Mervyn Silva’ has some allegations such as manhandling people and media personnel. Will this affect your service to the people as the Minister of Public Relations?

A: I always believe that in certain incidents, the behaviour of some people needs to be corrected but cannot allow them to continue to act in that manner. If the situation is beyond control, as a member of the society I believe it is my responsibility to react.

Think about the countries like Singapore and Malaysia. How did they come to the present status? It is through tough laws enforced against wrong-doers. As long as the people remain disciplined the country will have a disciplined society.

Centuries ago people were punished with various indigenous methods by the kings to correct them and to instal a decent society. Why are there no complaints of sexual abuses or robberies in Arab countries? That is because they mete out tough punishments to correct their people.

Q: But you are not mandated to take law into your hands to punish the people?

A: The simple example is if I see a person stealing money, can I remain blind as a citizen? My responsibility is to catch him and keep him in my custody and inform the Police. That is what I am doing and not taking law and order into my hands. Whenever I deserve a socially unacceptable act I will react as ‘Mervyn Silva’ and try to control the situation.

Q: You have frequently criticized some media institutions. As Minister of Public Relations will you be a media-friendly Minister?

A: I am very much a media-friendly man. I love media and have friends in the media. Those who disguise themselves as media men and persist in their ulterior motives, are not my friends.

I will take action to expose their hidden agendas.

The wrong information by the media will mislead the entire country. If a man ties a bull to a tree it is not news, but if a bull ties a man to a tree, it is news and the media should give the correct news always.

What is the role of a media person? It is educating people with correct ideas. They cannot mislead the people. Take for example the ‘WikiLeaks’ issue. Julian Assange has exposed a great truth!

I could not understand why the so-called media organisations in Sri Lanka did not come forward to demand the release of Julian. I will support him and after the budget debate I will have a demonstration demanding his release.

This is the time we should support Julian. Why? A media person means a person who exposes truth and acts against corruption. They are the watchdog, of the country.

Q: In Sri Lanka some journalists were threatened when they tried to expose some issues.

A: I am not talking about media freedom where certain persons try to achieve their ulterior motives through the media. I am also not talking about those trying to tarnish the image of the country and its achievements.

I am really talking about the media persons who expose the truth constructively without mud-slinging.

Julian is a good example for our journalists and they should rally around to demand his release. After the budget I will lead that campaign and don’t mind any one getting angry for taking the side of ‘WikiLeaks’ founder.

Q: How do you view President Rajapaksa’s visit to UK?

A: The ‘White men’ invaded Sri Lanka in 1815 and took away our wealth with them.

Though we are a sovereign nation today still their goons are alive in the country. I am not afraid to say that some agents of the ‘White man’ are still here, mainly in the Opposition and they try to create unrest. They also make a desperate attempt to tarnish the country’s image and that is why they make harmful statements from time to time.

The Britishers took away Sri Lanka’s wealth but they did some good to the country by constructing the railways and roads while reaping the benefits from our rich natural wealth. When there was an uprising against the British, orders were issued to kill all the leaders and their families, including small children. They destroyed the country’s wealth and made the country a graveyard.

They tried to get President Rajapaksa to dance to their tune. But he was not ready to kneel down before any country and he was aware of their motives. The President wanted to uphold Sri Lanka’s prestige before the world and prove that some institutions like Oxford Union has some of its members in the LTTE’s payroll. He stepped in to UK as a hero and also returned to the Lankan soil as a hero!

If those ‘White men’, who supported the LTTE in UK, not the British tourists, I will react and will not allow them to step into my electorate even if I lose my ministerial portfolio.

Q: Once you said you would disguise yourself to find people’s problems. Is this easy as the people know the ‘trade mark’ face of Minister Mervyn Silva?

A: Yes. I will go in disguise. I went to a certain place today wearing a wig and make-up.

They couldn’t recognise me. I listened to some of their grievances and will take action to find solutions to them.

In ancient times, the Kings mingled with the people as ordinary citizens to ascertain their problems.

I will do that on behalf of President Rajapaksa and will enlighten him about people’s problems and also take action to find solutions to them immediately.

I really want to know the problems of the people and have decided to go to the public in the guise of a beggar, woman or a thug.

Q: Have you already identified the burning problems of people?

A: The problems identified by the UNP and the JVP are not real problems faced by the ordinary people of this country. The so-called problems are created by these political parties for their survival and also to make use of these problems as slogans against the government. The labourer who earned Rs. 200 earlier earns Rs. 900 today. The workers receive a decent pay.

The problems of prices does not confine to the price of food alone but they need improved infrastructure facilities like good roads, employment opportunities and a peaceful environment to live in. President Rajapaksa gifted us a peaceful country and he has pledged to develop the country. Let’s join him to achieve this target during his tenure. That will help solve people’s problems.

Q: How do you plan to solve the problems faced by the people in the North and the East?

A: The government has given the priority to solve the problems faced by them. I will pay special attention in my plans to give them solutions. I will soon have discussions with the President, Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Minister Douglas Devananda to get their views on how to plan the projects.

I will also get the support of the Tamil political leaders to find out their problems. As I don’t have caste or ethnic discriminations when serving people, I will do my best to all communities to make their lives better.

Q: Lethargy is one main obstacle in government institutions and this has led to their inefficiency. How do you plan to make these institutions efficient and take speedy action to solve public complaints?

A: The best example is I took prompt action to develop the road referred to earlier. All Ministers are my friends and I hope I can have a better coordination with them.

Though there are separate Ministries I have to look into the public grievances when their complaints are directed to me.

Under Mahinda Chinthanaya there are no divisions and we all have to work together with no conflicts. This environment facilitates me to render a better service to the people.

I hope all state institutions will help me solve people’s problems. They need to be efficient to achieve President’s goal to develop the country in the aftermath of the decades long conflict.

I tried to solve their problems immediately without delaying them for years. If I can’t find answers to their grievances I will direct them to the relevant authorities. If the authorities try to delay deliberately finding remedies I will severely criticize their behaviour in the Parliament to expose their motives despite their involvement in politics or otherwise.

I am a genuine person who keeps promises.

Q: Most of the politicians became ‘unknown’ to their people after they win the elections. Can people directly contact you and bring their grievances to you?

A: Yes, I am a people’s man. I am always there to serve them. I will have a hot-line for them to contact me and bring their grievances to me.

Q: You said the portfolio similar to yours is held by the Indian PM. Do you have a dream to become the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka?

A: No, not even in my wildest dreams. I am a practical man and I will face any challenge. But I don’t have any such dreams.

As long as the Rajapaksas are ruling the country I will be the happiest as they are the people who know the pulse of the people.

We know better than others as our family did politics with late Minister D.A Rajapaksa.

My father who was in active politics then told us that the late D.A Rajapaksa was the politician who fought feudalism tooth and nail and assured the downtrodden of their due place in society.

I believe extraordinary people are born from time to time. Especially in this Buddhist country, when it is in danger such people are born to save the country. Like D.S. Senanayake and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike there were some noble personalities in history.

In our recent history, President Rajapaksa is the extraordinary person who was born to bring peace. He foresees the future, he has the strength to do what others can’t even think of and the most importantly he keeps his promises.

That is why he could defeat terrorism which others thought was impossible. He will certainly achieve his goals to make this country a better place to live in and our responsibility as Sri Lankans is to rally round him by shedding all differences to achieve that target.

Pic: Vipula Amarasinghe