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LG polls results, sign of people’s faith in Govt - Namal Rajapaksa MP

MP Namal Rajapaksa, who spearheaded the election campaign in the Hambantota district and successfully dislodged the final stronghold of the JVP - the Tissamaharama Pradeshiya Sabha - spoke to the Sunday Observer about the UPFA’s landslide victory at the Local Government polls on March 17.

Q: Despite Opposition claims and the popular JVP slogan ‘An end to deceit’, the UPFA secured a resounding victory at the mini polls. This was the first election where you were given the reins to spearhead a campaign in Hambantota. How do you feel about this victory?

A: The UNP was battling their own woes rather than getting ready for the election campaign. What I feel is that the people chose, in their heart and soul, the party that is interested in development of the village over a party grappling to overcome their internal tug-o-war and power struggles.

Q: Do you think the election result was a harsh response to the UNP and JVP?

A: More than a reply to the UNP and the JVP, I think it’s an eye-opener to the Government. It was a test to judge the scale of the people’s faith and the Government’s popularity.

The landslide victory and the voter turnout show that people had not lost confidence in the Government as claimed by the Opposition. Contrary to this idea, they had great faith in the Government and President Mahinda Rajapaksa, that it was the only party which could find solutions to their grievances.

Therefore, the election has given us more responsibilities, to take matters more seriously than before. The Government will make sure that it will not fail the people who stood behind it. We will not let them down.

At this election the people voted their own representatives to work at grassroots level. It was the people’s choice. The beneficiaries of this election are the people in the village, and not the Government.

I believe people were aware of this fact. The Government’s vision is to develop the country, concentrating on the village.Thus we want to revive the Local Government bodies to become active partners in this national process. Every member will have a specific role in this effort. They will be accountable for their actions.

Q: There were allegations from various quarters that the majority of candidates nominated by the UPFA were inexperienced youth ?

A: The selection of candidates was purely based on the recommendation of the district organisers. There is nothing wrong in fielding or inviting young blood to take up serious positions and getting their contribution for the development war. If they are capable of delivering what is expected of them, there is nothing wrong in it. That is how I look at it.

After all, our candidates have proven that they have the blessings of the people.

Q: You spearheaded the Hambantota election campaign for the first time. How do you feel about the outcome?

A: We had reservations over Tissamaharama, Tangalle and Katuwana areas. These were problematic areas. Sajith Premadasa was also putting his entire strength to secure victory for the UNP in his seat. But ultimately the people’s voice came out strong and clear. We managed to break the JVP grip at Tissa and even secure Sajith’s own seat.

Q: Are you satisfied with the voter turnout at the election?

A: For a Local Government election this is a fair percentage. This is the average voter turnout we have had for most Local Government elections. We cannot claim that the percentage has gone down or there is less enthusiasm among the voters. For a Presidential election of course there could be about 75 percent voter turnout.

Q: The UNP and the JVP allege that the election is not free and fair. Your comments?

A: After this shameful defeat, they have to come out with something to save face. There were no major violations as far as this election was concerned whereas we have seen how the UNP conducted elections in the past. This is an effort towards damage mitigation.

Q: When a government has remained in power for a while, it becomes unpopular. That is the norm we have witnessed in the past. The JVP was hopeful that this could be a trump card for them to bounce back?

A: They are driven by partisan politics. They get into schools and try to spoil the mentality of the schoolchildren and drag them onto streets for their petty political campaigns. This is not the 80s or 90s. They cannot easily corrupt the minds of schoolchildren or their parents anymore. People are more educated and better informed now.

They could see the development taking place all over the country. Schools in Hambantota are much better than schools in Colombo now. The JVP has simply lost its clout in Sri Lankan politics.

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