LG polls:
UPFA victory will strengthen villages - Dinesh Gunawardena
By Shanika SRIYANANDA
The government is confident of another election victory at the
forthcoming Local Government elections and people in the country would
vote for the UPFA.
Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Dinesh Gunawardena in an
interview with the Sunday Observer said though the government was fully
committed to have a free and fair election, but the preferential vote
system where candidates from the same party clash with one another and
this has created some violence. The police is entrusted to maintain law
and order.
"We will soon change the electoral system", he said adding that there
is no organised terror but the cancerous 'manape' (Preferential System)
which is the most negative contribution brought in by the UNP into the
election system has become a threat to a free and fair election.
He said the victory for the UPFA at the forthcoming LG polls was a
foregone conclusion.
Following are excerpts of the interview:
Q: The government predicts yet another landslide victory at
the forthcoming LG polls. Will this be an easy task?
A: In short yes. The Opposition has proved to be a total
failure because all their predictions have been disproved by the
government. At the last elections we won with a very comfortable
majority at the elections - Presidential, Provincial and the General
elections. The UNP is facing an internal crisis of how to take the party
forward, where to go and what policies are to be followed because of the
policies they adopted in relation to terrorism, separatism and the
anti-democratic moves that their governments launched in the country for
which they are answerable today.
In addition the economy has been very stable under the leadership of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa. As Sri Lanka is politically and
economically stable the country has become the centre of attention of
investors. This did not exist in the country earlier and people are
aware of this. Voters have benefited by some of the policies that we
have followed. For an example before the world faced its first food
crisis in recent times the Mahinda Chinthana gave leadership to the
country by granting the fertiliser subsidiary without any increase which
helped to increase production in paddy cultivation and other related
food sectors. Sri Lanka was thus cushioned during the difficult period.
Secondly it has also contributed to the high incomes earned by the
peasantry and rural people. Today we are also experiencing very high
prices in the tea and rubber sectors. The UNP's attempt to defeat the
government will definitely be a total failure and it will bring defeat
for the UNP for the 19th consecutive time.
Q: UNP Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe accuses the government of
creating violence in the run-up to the polls. He has also accused the
police of turning a blind eye to organised terror. What do you have to
say about these allegations?
A: There is no organized terror but obviously this cancerous
PR System of elections and 'manapa' system which was the most negative
contribution brought about by the UNP into the election system, has
caused rivalry among the parties and also within the same political
party. Some times the police as well as other law enforcement
authorities are unable to contain it as there are certain election laws
that police also have to follow. Therefore, the allegation of the UNP
that elections are being intimidated is wrong because there are clashes
between UNP candidates themselves and there are clashes between UPFA
candidates. This is the result of the election system. Police has
intervened at every possible moment to control any disruption to the
normal election process.
Q: But the government was talking about changing this election
system. Why is there a delay?
A: The government has been talking about changes and I have
led the select committee for the revision of the election system and
recommendations were made.
The UNP took such a long time as they were not in agreement and there
was a golden opportunity to change the law and finally when the law was
passed, we have to refer it to Provincial Councils and then to
Parliament. The issue was whether we are going to postpone elections.
That could have been interpreted by the UNP as an anti democratic move.
Why postpone elections? If new laws have been implemented re-demarcation
of wards system in all the local authorities in the country for which
the relevant authorities need nine to ten months, we could have
postponed the elections till the end of this year. Without that we can't
implement the law which is passed by the Parliament. So this was the
reason where we have to hold LG elections before March 31 following the
existing process. But the government would go ahead with implementing
the necessary changes to election laws in the future
Q: The CAFFE report revealed that Opposition polling agents in
Ratnapura, Hambantota, Galle, Ampara and Puttalam were chased away by
UPFA supporters. If these complaints are true how can the government
assure a free and fair election?
A: Of course the reports are made on complaints but inquiries
need to be made to see whether the allegations are true. I would say
only the Elections Commissioner would be able to give a ruling on it.
Q: Of all the nominations papers that were rejected, the UPFA
has the highest (36) while the UNP has eight and the JVP has one. What
went wrong?
A: Nothing had gone wrong. In the North, it is true that we
had a fair number of nominations that were rejected. The issue is
because UPFA has not been written properly in the other languages. I
don't want to comment on issues which have been referred to Courts. But
we have used this same name before and it was accepted by the Election
authorities.
My own view is that none of the nomination papers should be rejected
for minor issues. It is a matter of a candidate's right to contest and
if the basics are in order, the right of a candidate or a party should
be allowed. If he has violated the law or given false information, it is
upto a court of law to take a decision under an election petition to
reject the organisation or annul an elected.
This is what happened in India and this is what happened in our
country at the parliamentary elections. Then why don't we follow this
procedure, this time too? If there is any other election violation take
it up when the election is over and disqualify the candidates.
This would be the best approach. Of course these things have to be
studied further.
Q: Does the government consider these matters and will it
implement them in future elections?
A: The government made considerations for all these aspects in
the new election laws. The Bill is before Parliament and it will be
taken up at committee stage.
Q: Elections of over 60 LGs postponed and the Opposition says
this happened as the Elections Commission is yet to be appointed. Why
has the government failed to appoint the commission?
A: The President will appoint the Elections Commission under
the 18th Amendment. He will make the announcement after the other
commissions are appointed. When we inform that the President has
appointed the Commission, Parliament has to make certain recommendations
to the constitutional council.
Q: The opposition claims that 20 months have already passed
after ending terrorism, promises like the Rs. 2,500 to public servants
given to people is overlooked by the government. How do you plan to
reach people as people have already shown a poor response to the polls
campaign?
A: One can't say that people are fed up with elections because
in a democratic society, elections to different political institutions
are a necessity.
The issue is how best people can work with elected representatives
and how they could have a continuous dialogue with their voters to meet
their grievances. I don't think people are negative to elections. They
have shown interest to politics. They look at where the political will
and power lies. When the Presidential Elections were held there was a
very high interest. At the parliamentary elections it dropped and at the
provincial elections it will drop further and at the LG polls it will
further drop.
We need to encourage people to actively participate in LG politics.
We also have to elect LG bodies in the North and the East. It is a
positive step which enhances democratic institutions and democratic
participation of the people.
This is what the Opposition must understand. We have had 20 to 30
years where there were no elections to local authorities and no people's
participation in the North because terrorist groups controlled
everything.
Today the situation has been totally overturned by the government
where people are free to vote and contest in the North and the East and
also any other part of the country.
It is difficult for us to guarantee the victory for the UNP because
they themselves have destroyed party principles and confidence of the
people.
I think people will participate in this election and will give a very
good mandate to the UPFA, which has not given any broken promises to the
people.
Q: Almost two years after the war against terrorism ended, the
government is still organising military shows, parades etc. Is the
government selling the war victory for political purposes and also can
this expenditure be justified in the context of the high cost of living,
high debt ratio etc?
A: I must recall the famous statement by Abraham Lincoln when
the US was at civil war, there was a cry for a postponement of elections
and he said that "elections should be held because that was the biggest
democratic right the people had".
Recalling the independence day of a country is something that does
not come everyday. It is not only for those who are in the government
but for the whole country, where our country gained independence after
500 years after colonial rule. One does not have to forget history, the
liberation struggle that our people have gone through.
The second liberation that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has brought
into this country is an unforgettable chapter in our history.
Independence Day which has been held every year is not an extra
activity.
The celebration was shifted to the South and why not to other areas
of the country, where people from these areas also fought for the
country's freedom. They also must witness the victory.
The other celebration of anniversaries of armed forces are held in
other countries too because it gives strength and dedication to those
who are in the Forces. It is also an opportunity for the Forces to be
creative in their military activities.
Whether it is the Army's 50th Anniversary or the Air Force's 60th
Anniversary, we should not forget the role they played to bring freedom
to this country. We should permit these young men and women in the
Forces to be more creative. I would say they have handled the most
sophisticated equipment and we should be proud of sons and daughters of
Maha Vidyalayas who were able to do so. That shows the challenge of IT,
new technology can be easily achieved by our generation.
The government has not sold the war for any political gain and the
government battle to defeat other Forces are going on. Some elements,
who are outside the country are directly and indirectly involved with
separatist and terrorists, are trying to embarrass the Sri Lankan
government. There are some politicians who have connections through the
UNP and are involved in these activities. I think that one should not
embark to embarrass one's own country.
If one could work with outside forces to embarrass the country and
further push our country to another internal conflict, the political
elements are opportunists.
They have no love for the country. If so we have to continue with our
political struggle to defeat these elements that harm the country's hard
earned peace. Defeating terrorism is not a victory only for us but also
for the world who have banned terrorism. I don't understand why some
sections are so worried when we remind and celebrate the victories won.
Victory has to be celebrated. Even after 550 years, a little kid of
today as a grown up talks of Rajasinghe the Great, who held the
Portuguese for months and months without allowing them to advance. Why?
Any country would be proud of their victories and we should be proud of
the victory under the leadership of President Rajapaksa defeating
terrorism and separatism and making new horizons and development for the
people.
Q: The President recently requested the Opposition to wait
until 2016 and 2017 to topple him and the government. The UNP's slogan
for the LG polls is the 'first step to topple the government' and the
JVP wants to 'put an end to deception'. Can the Opposition hope to gain
power before 2016 and 2017?
A: I repeat that the Opposition first has to organise itself.
I don't think they are very serious about this election reading what
Sajith Premadasa said, "there will be a change in the leadership of the
UNP soon after the LG polls'.
What does that mean? It shows the UNP's internal battle for power.
First that has to be settled by themselves and we have heard enough of
these slogans. 'The last days of the UPFA' was pronounced last year at
the elections. Now the UNP is changing its slogan and has announced 'the
first step towards toppling the government'. I think they have really
missed the step.
Q: If Sajith Premadasa becomes the leader of the UNP, some
say, the UNP can be a challenge to the government. What is your comment?
A: I don't think the government has any challenge by changing
the leadership of the UNP. Because Sajith will take a very long time and
I say if he gets a chance to be UNP leader. The UNP is in pieces. It was
one of the biggest political parties in the country at one time and they
lost this glory as some have crossed over, some left the party and some
are fed up with party politics.
The UNP will take a long time to have a come-back and they also need
to have Sri Lanka friendly politics. First they have to erase the damage
done by their own politics.
As President Rajapaksa said the opportunity to change the government
will come after some years, the President too can re-contest if he
wants.
Therefore the UNP has to wait a very long time to capture power.
Q: Will some prominent UNPers join the government during this
'long wait'?
A: I don't want to reveal confidential political news, but we
have had so much of inquires from top UNPers because they have
understood that after defeating the LTTE, the country has a golden
opportunity for economic development.
The younger generation, entrepreneurs and rural people, know the path
to development is only possible with the UPFA government under the
leadership of President Rajapaksa.
They are confident about decisions taken by the President and even
the average UNPers have understood that. Unfortunately, leaders of the
UNP are yet to understand this and they should end political animosity.
Today society is moving faster than the leaders. If a political party
is mired in conflicts interested over personalities, those political
parties cannot last long.
Some senior UNP politicians who want to contribute their share to the
country's development in the post conflict era are already discussing
with the UPFA to join the government.
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