A vibrant Opposition vital for democracy - Senior Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Senior Minister for Good Governance and Infrastructure Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka said a Parliamentary Select Committee or any other mode of discussion is a good move to bring a viable solution to the national question.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said problems can only be resolved through dialogues where all political parties must arrive at a common decision. The issue of the national question does not confine to the Government or one political party. Therefore, no room should be provided for any political party to say that they were not consulted in this process.

The Minister said a strong Opposition is always required to have an effective form of democratic Government.

Though the Opposition is weak, we must not allow it to stand aside when major issues are discussed to evolve solutions. If the Opposition is ineffective in Parliament and in the country, Minister Wickramanayaka stressed the importance of obtaining their views to arrive at a consensus on the national question.

The extracts of the interview:

Q: You are one of the most senior members in the party and I believe you had held a ministerial portfolio under late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and under the successive Governments. What measures have you taken to mobilise the activities of your present portfolio?

A: There is a small problem here. Our present portfolio does not clearly earmark the responsibilities entrusted upon us. We have to work in coordination with other Ministries connected to the task that we are expected to perform. Therefore, the process is slow. But evolution of solutions to the problems faced by the Ministries concerned through discussions and understanding has created a good atmosphere even for them to work.

There were so many problems that came with the Public Administration Ministry, but we have been able to iron out those things with determination to resolve them on one hand by arriving at a solution which is acceptable to the majority. It is based on that concept that we are working. In that respect, we have achieved a few remarkable results as I just mentioned.

Q: I believe good governance and infrastructure are interconnected with all other Ministries. How is the response you receive from other Cabinet colleagues?

A: As I said earlier, we have to work in collaboration with other Ministers. We are working closely with the Public Administration Ministry. Good governance covers everything, not only all Ministries that is important today. What is the meaning of good governance? It means fair and equitable treatment for all citizens.

The administration is not closed, but open and transparent. In this context, we are prepared to listen to any constructive criticism made. Those things go a long way in fulfilling our task. When the things are pointed out, we can go into them. Good governance is one of the basic needs today.

The Public Servants have a definite role to play in this regard. Whether that role is played efficiently is questionable.

When I was listening to some trade union discussions, one of the trade unionists told me the number of hours routined by a public servant is less than four hours per day. This is not my analysis. One of the trade unionists told me. So good governance means, we have to improve all these things because that is connected so many problems which we are facing today.

I asked some of the trade unionists as to what this problem is? They must come and cooperate with us to solve the problem. If we try to solve it on our own, that will be a crisis in our hands or can be a strike. What they said was proper transport facilities should be provided for them to come to work and return home. When I asked them, isn’t there a good transport system, the reply was ‘no’ - sometimes buses do not come on time. As a result, public servants come to work after eight. We as politicians must also set an example by coming to office at the proper time. When we do not come on time, those people may say that we are given all the facilities such as transport, but even we do not come on time. So we must not leave that question to be raised by them. We must come on time.

When I come to the Ministry, I always come at 8 a.m. as we must set an example. I know there are certain days that we can’t do it because we have other work to attend.

But as far as possible, we must try to solve the problems faced by the public servants so that they could come to work on time. It is true that our transport system has to be improved.

The public servants also point out various difficulties which they have faced such as taking their children to schools. We know all those are normal problems of family life.

Today they are more intricate than those days. Having gone through a period of tension for 30 years, even now they are much concerned about their children.

That is good thing in one way though we may not agree. But it is a good thing to be conscious about your own child at all times. You must bring up child to suit the society in which we are going to live. So there are problems and they vary, but we must try to find solutions.

We can’t provide each child a good school. Certainly better equipped schools should be made available in rural areas.

That was one thing pointed out by the trade unions at discussions. Most of the public servants do not live in Colombo.

They live in suburbs and far beyond that.

Unfortunately the facilities provided by those schools do not attract the parents who want to admit the child there. Everybody wants to give a good education to their child.

That is a normal thing and one can’t grumble about it as it is the duty of every parent. As far as possible, we must try to give all possible opportunities to schools which are in the rural areas so that they need not come to urban areas for their education.

All those factors have to be taken into consideration when we deal with the problem of attendance of public servants.

Q: While some young Ministers are very efficient and dedicated to their work a few others are arrogant and short-sighted, some sections of the people have alleged. How do you view this situation? Is there any truth in it?

A: This is what a certain section of the people say. How can I say it? I did not come across a thing like that. No two persons are the same. That is not so.

One may differ from the other. That is the normal human tendency. But I do not know whether there are any politicians who are arrogant. No politician can be arrogant for that matter.

Q: After eradicating terrorism, the Government expected to have a smooth administration and rapid economic development in the country. But there are allegations from the Opposition that the country is heading towards an economic crisis and also there is unrest and corruption in a number of State institutions. What are your comments?

A: That is the normal comment made by the Opposition. We must take that into consideration to find out what extent that is true or not.

How can that be true when we see with our own eyes the mega development programs in relation to ports, aviation, irrigation and other sectors. There is development everywhere.

A large number of roads has been done up in rural areas. We can see these things with our own eyes. There may be certain things which have to be eliminated. We will have to study all those things. But I will not agree with the theory that there is no development.

But I do not know whether all the aspects of human life are covered by the development. When we talk about development, it covers the normal activities of any human being. We might not have been able to satisfy all those desires. But certainly the infrastructure facilities have been provided and the basic needs of the people have been met. Therefore, the development has been successful to that extent.

Q: Do you think the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee would bring in any viable solution to the national question in the country?

A: I do not know whether it is a select committee or not. But I believe that problems can be solved only through dialogue where all political parties must agree to a solution. As an example, if we find a solution on our own, then others will say they were never consulted. This is a national problem. This is not a problem which is confined to one party or one Government. As this is a national problem, I feel a Select Committee or any other mode of discussion or a forum is very good. Then we would be able to arrive at a common decision and thereafter go before the Parliament to bring necessary amendments to the constitution. A consensus can only be arrived through a dialogue. I welcome it.

Q: Negotiations are already underway with the TNA. If the TNA and the Government come to a compromise on the national question relating to different issues, do you think that the main Opposition would agree? If not how do you hope to muster their support?

A: Why do you want to leave room for any party to say that we were not consulted. The best thing is to summon the whole lot together and thrash it out.

Q: How will the outcome of the Northern polls affect or influence the reconciliation and development activities of the Province?

A: After so many years, it shows that the people in the North were given the opportunity to elect their own people to govern the Local Bodies. This is a good achievement. The elections have been held and the TNA has won the majority of the Local Bodies. This is a very good thing and I welcome it. Let them now control and administer those Local Bodies according to the rules laid down by the Local Government Act. Like other Local Government Bodies, we will treat them as genuine and help them, so that development can take place. But of course, the major development programs have to be launched by the Central Government - not by the Local Bodies. This is what we are doing at the moment and we will continue to do so.

Q: There are allegations that the Western World wants to destabilise the economic growth of the Government and to penalise the President for having defeated the most ruthless terrorist movement which the international community never expected to happen. Your comments?

A: There can’t be variations in the degree of terrorism, either there is terrorism or not. They are in a half way house; the Western World speaks with two tongues, I wonder to what extent they are genuine. Take England as an example. The LTTE is a banned organisation in England. But I learnt from the media that they are operating buses now. The question arises after banning a terrorist organisation and whether it should be allowed to continue its other activities. Is that democratic or fair? Doesn’t it prejudice the mind of the people who are anti-terrorist in their thoughts. If you have banned a particular organisation as a terrorist outfit measures should also be taken to prevent it from carrying out activities such as fund raising for terrorist activities. They have banned it but allow it to resort to other things. That is questionable. When you look at this problem from that angle, I feel there are certain countries in the West which unfortunately may not seem to be genuine. If they have an idea of putting down terrorism, they must act in all corners with that idea. Therefore, there is suspicion that some foreign Governments are determined to dance to the tune of the LTTE even now. So the people are suspecting them. Unfortunately these things are taking place leaving room for suspicion.

Q: The Opposition is a major element in a viable democracy. How do you look at the apathy of the major Opposition, the UNP?

A: Unfortunately we do not have a strong Opposition. I believe a strong Opposition is vital for an effective form of democratic Government.

They are there to point out our mistakes and errors so that we can rectify them. That is why I said earlier the consensus on the national question should be reached through discussion. Though the Opposition is week, we must not allow it to stand aside while we discuss major issues and try to explore solutions. Unfortunately the Opposition is week. But I do not want to go deeper into it because that is not our territory.

Q: Bureaucracy is sometimes reckoned as a stumbling block for progress. How do you look at it as you were one time Public Administration Minister?

A: It all depends on the way you handle a problem. You can’t call every public servant a person who is not cooperating with the activities of the Government. You must know exactly how to get your things done. That experience goes a long way. I will not say that there is bureaucracy that is obstructing all forms of good governance. There may be few certain individuals like that. But they should be able to transform through proper dialogue and workshops.

You must realise that no problem remains unchanged throughout the years. Naturally our problems also change and the answers to those problems too change. So we must keep the public servants aware of all these things such as day-to-day problems and the solutions which we provide. When they are not aware of those things, naturally there may be allegations and sometimes they might say we can’t solve these problems. But a solution has to be found by an executive which they are not aware. So whose fault is that? It is our fault. We must make them understand what is going on. Workshops and training programs are necessary. This is my answer. Then the bureaucracy will also transform accordingly.

Q:There is speculation that a two third majority is not always in the interest of the country. Would you like to comment on this?

A: Whether it is two thirds majority or less, how can we say that is not in the interest of the country. The Government has to survive. For the Government to survive, it should have a majority in Parliament.

If the Government decides to bring constitutional changes to any problem, naturally two third majority is required in Parliament. These are the two basic things. I will not say two third majority in Parliament retards the progress of the country. I will not say that. It all depends on the policies of the Government. If the policies are good whether it is two third majority or less, it does not make any changes.

Q: You are one of the most senior and mature politicians in the country today. What is your message to the emerging politicians?

A: The message is very clear. Be humble. Don’t be carried away with the power that you are entrusted with. That is a sacred power. You are expected to serve the people. Realise that responsibilities and always keep that in mind. You are a servant of the public.

If such things are always kept in mind and work accordingly, then of course any politician could be successful in his mission.