Restoring Kotte's splendour - Janaka Ranawaka

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Janaka Ranawaka first entered politics by successfully contesting the Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte Municipal Council in 2002. He became the Opposition Leader of the Council in 2004. A promising young politician he also became the Deputy Mayor of the Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte MC in 2006. The significant services, he rendered to the people as Deputy Mayor helped him this time around to obtain 16,262 preferential votes the highest ever preferential votes obtained by a candidate in the Kotte electorate, even without being a party organiser. He assumed office as the fifth Mayor of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte MC on Thursday.

The newly elected Mayor in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that King Prarakramabahu VI had ruled the Kotte Kingdom from 1415 to 1467. He was the last king who united the entire country and created the city of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte as the most beautiful city in the country. He said his vision was to recreate the splendour and the true identity of the Kotte kingdom. He also said he intends to preserve and rekindle the grandeur of the historic locations in the Kotte city within the next three years and arrange a four-and-a-half-hour tour to these historic places. "This will no doubt help project our identity to the world," he said.

He however, maintained the view that the preferential voting system is not the only cause for various clashes and violent incidents. If each political party nominates suitable and well-disciplined candidates this kind of situation will not arise. We need politicians who could think of their motherland and not those who are always bent on personal gains or those who safeguard the interests of businessmen. When candidates are selected, political parties should look into the services rendered by them to society without considering his educational qualifications or wealth alone.

Q: How do you view your victory by securing the highest number of preferential votes?

A: I view this as a resounding mandate given to me by the people of the Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council area due to my contribution made over the past few years to develop the city, in my capacity as the Deputy Mayor.

I think I am the only Deputy Mayor who has carried out a number of development projects in four years, amounting to Rs. 220m. Voters have extended their gratitude and elected me.

Q: Have you earmarked any special projects for your next stint as Mayor?

A: At present Kotte city is inundated even when there is a small shower. My major challenge is to prevent the city being inundated.

I have also taken a decision to complete construction work of all roads and the drainage systems in the Municipal Council area within the next two years.

King Prarakramabahu VI ruled Kotte from 1415 to 1467. He was the last king who united the entire country.

There was a fortress comprising an inner moat and an outer moat and a rampart wall as well. It was called the fortress for 'permanent victory'. King Parakramabahu to envisioned that the kingdom where he lived should be made beautiful.

Therefore he created a lovely city of Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte as the most beautiful city in the country.

I have the responsibility to recreate the splendour of the ancient Kotte Kingdom.

History reveals valuable information as to how Prince Sapumal Bandara won 'Yapa Patuna', the place where Ven. Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera wrote Selalihini Sandeshaya, the dewala built by Prince Sapumal Bandara by enshrining his 'Magul Kaduwa' and the places where King Parakramabahu VI achieved victory. My mission is to preserve and promote these historic locations and arrange a four- and-a-half-hour tour to visit these historic places.

Q: According to you what is the importance of the winning Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte Municipal Council by the UPFA?

A: It is easy for Local Government institutions to perform their duties when the Provincial Councils and the Central Government come under the purview of one political party.

It would minimise clashes in Local Government Bodies, Provincial Councils and the Central Government. When the Central Government and Local Government institutions are under two different parties, it is very difficult for Municipal Councils and the Urban Councils to perform their duties as there is a continuous tug-of-war between the Central Government and Local Government institutions.

However, we are fortunate that an environment has been created for Local Government institutions to perform their duties freely as Central Government and Local Government institutions are under the UPFA banner.

Q: Various public complaints are made on the inefficiency of Local Government institutions. As the Mayor how do you intend to overcome the inefficiency in your Municipal Council?

A: My main objective is to change attitudes among employees of the council. Because a concept has been created among public servants that they should only confine themselves to an eight-hour job and that there should be lot of files on the tables every time. But an efficient public servant should be able to complete the job allotted to him successfully, without having a heap of files. I have decided to follow a special methodology when dealing with public servants in my council. For example, if a complaint is received that a street lamp is not functioning, it should be replaced in an hour. It takes less than one hour to reach any area of the council as the total area extends within 17.5 square kilometres.

We will display a notice, the MC should spend to fulfil a task. If it is not adhered to, people can meet me direct. We have no right to waste valuable time of voters.

I will try my best to provide an efficient service to the people through the MC by minimising the time spent to obtain a service.

Q: Are you satisfied with the work done by mayors in the past?

A: According to the traditional method followed by the Municipal Council, I am satisfied. But as a country which has entered development,

I can't be satisfied about the work done by the Municipal Council.

I have taken a decision to computerise documents of the council so that people will be able to obtain any information about the services provided by the council via Internet.

Q: Of 23 Local Bodies, the UPFA won 21. What led the UPFA to achieve this resounding victory?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the main reason for this victory. The President successfully put an end to the terrorism and restored peace in the country.

If the President did not eradicate terrorism, we won't be able to engage in politics or even move freely. The leadership given by the President is the key reason behind the victory.

I am the only candidate who obtained the highest number of preferential votes even without being an organiser.

If I did not contest under the UPFA banner, I would not have been elected even as a member of the council. I became the first and obtained the highest number of votes due to the popularity of the UPFA. The UPFA's popularity means the popularity of the President.

Q: The contribution made by Local Government institutions are vital to implement the Government's development drive in both urban and rural areas. How does your Municipal Council intend to contribute towards this task?

A: The Municipal Council in collaboration with the Defence Ministry intends to introduce a joint program for development of Kotte city. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has granted Rs. 223 million to develop the road network which comes under the municipal council.

All roads belonging to the municipal council will be carpeted before the end of this month. Minister Basil Rajapaksa has laid special emphasis and given assistance to develop our road network.

When development plans are formulated for Kotte, I would make collaborative attempts with the Defence Ministry, Economic Development Ministry and the Urban Development Authority (UDA). The entire development of the city will be made under one plan.

Q: The garbage problem is the key issue in Colombo and the suburbs. Are you satisfied with the present program initiated by the council to dispose garbage?

A: Yes. Earlier there were mountains of garbage in Colombo. Now such heap cannot be seen in the city due to the intervention of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Government has decided to generate compost and bio gas using garbage. Large scale such projects have already been started in areas like Karadiyana. We will set up a project in the Kotte area to generate electricity.

The municipal council in association with the Defence Ministry and the UDA has decided to implement a garbage recycling project.

Q: The preferential system has led to clashes among candidates of the same party. The recent incident in Mulleriyawa is a classic example. Do you think changing the preferential system as being the only solution?

A: I am not of the view that the preferential system should be changed. I think the people should be provided with the opportunity to elect their representative.

I don't think the Mulleriyawa incident took place solely because of the preferences.

This type of incident may occur due to various reasons. I think we should change the candidates not the preferential system.

Each political party should decide what kind of people should be given nominations to contest elections.

Once I won the election, I requested Bhikkhus to guide those who have gone to Dhamma Schools to enter politics. To build a decent city, each political party should field suitable candidates. We need politicians who think of their motherland and not those who always think of personal gains or appear in the interests of businessmen. Popular political figures are produced through the preferential system.

If the present preferential system is changed and an election is held according to the previous electoral system, popular political figures will not be elected. If this preferential system was not there, I would have also not come to this position as none of my family members have engaged in politics.

I also came to this position thanks to the preferential system.

There are some shortcomings which have to be rectified in this system.

If there is a need, we can introduce a mixture of the first past the post system and the proportional representation system. But the preferential system is not the sole reason for these clashes or violent activities.

If each party nominates suitable candidates, this kind of situation will not occur. When candidates are selected, political parties should look into the service rendered by them to society without confining to their educational qualifications and wealth.