Accountability and transparency-:

Vital in political process - Minister Navin Dissanayake

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Public Management Reforms Minister Navin Dissanayake said in a situation where the UNP’s party machinery is in total disarray, it would be very difficult for them to pose a challenge to a strong and stable Government like the UPFA. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the UNP will not be able to meet this challenge without an effective organization at grass roots level. Instead of the present UNP leadership, all the time, UNP had a very good machinery under all its former leaders. The UNP under the present leadership is not in a position to pose any challenge to the Government.

The Minister said the Opposition has not been able to conduct an effective campaign due to disunity among Opposition parties. At present the UNP’s vote bank has also faced a setback. Nearly 20 to 25 percent of the UNPers don’t vote. At the last election this went up to 25 to 30 percent. The Minister is optimistic this will happen once again at the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Council polls as well.

Minister Dissanayake said there must be transparency on the process of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). A Political solution must be reached with the consent of all parties concerned. The TNA has not yet felt that the PSC will bring about a solution. There must be a process of accountability and transparency. As the people’s representatives, it is the responsibility of political parties to participate in the PSC and move in the correct direction.

The Minister cited the Katuwana incident as an example where the law acted speedily and the Police arrested the person who has allegedly involved in it. However, the question is why we wait till something happens as some may attempt to put the blame on the Police.

The Police should immediately arrest the elements who have been issued warrants to arrest. On the directive of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Police has been able to arrest a large number of people and bring underworld elements to book. There was no interference by the Government when these culprits were arrested. The Defence Secretary wants to immediately arrest criminal elements who operate in the country. He is active on several fronts. The Police must carry out orders given by the Defence Secretary.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

Q: The UNP and JVP have broken into several factions. Can they have an impact in the coming Provincial poll?

A: I don’t think so. The UNP and JVP are disorganised and they won’t have any meaningful impact on the upcoming Provincial Council polls. They are also aware about this.

The Opposition has not been able to conduct an effective campaign due to disunity among Opposition parties. The UNP’s vote bank has also faced a setback. Nearly 20 to 25 percent of the UNPers don’t vote. At the last election this went up to 25 to 30 percent.

Q: The Opposition alleges that the Government is fearing holding all Provincial elections on the same day. Your comments?

A: This is no big deal. Because elections were held like that even in the 1970s. Two by-elections were held in 1972. My father Gamini Dissanayake was also able to win one by-election. If a political party organises itself, it is not a big problem whether the elections are held in one province, two provinces or three provinces. Even in 1973 Rukman Senanayake also won a by election. If all parties move into electorates, it’s not a challenge for the Government. Under the present leadership of the UNP, they are not going to make any challenge to the Government.

Q: How would you analyse Sarath Fonseka factor in the political scene?

A: It’s too early to comment how that factor will work out. I acknowledge Sarath Fonseka is a popular figure. But of course there is a legal bar for him to contest elections. Actually I don’t know how they are going to organise themselves. Nobody knows whether he will join the common opposition or form a different political party. It is difficult to form a different political party and build it from the grass roots. You need funds.

I remember when my father formed the DUNF, I can tell you this is not an easy task. My father and Lalith Athulathmudali were popular political leaders. Even with that kind of popularity, they were able to get only 1.2 million votes. Somehow people always vote in blocks. I don’t know how the Sarath Fonseka factor will work and it’s too early to comment.

Q: Do you think the UNP would be able to make a comeback under the present leadership ?

A: It is difficult to do so. UNP MPs are not working in unison. The UNP is in disarray. Except for the present UNP leadership, the UNP had a good machinery under all its former leaders like Dudley Senanayake and R. Premadasa. It is difficult now to pose a challenge to a strong and stable Government like the UPFA in power. The UNP can’t meet that challenge without an effective organisation at grass roots level.

Q: What is the importance of the parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and why should all parties participate in it?

A: Of course the PSC is a good move. It depends on the participation of the TNA and the UNP. The UNP has said that they are willing to participate in the PSC. So far the TNA is not very interested.

There must be transparency in the PSC. A political solution must come out with the consent of all parties concerned. The TNA has not yet felt that the PSC will bring about a solution. There must be a process of accountability and transparency in all these things. As the people’s representatives, it is the responsibility of all political parties to participate in the PSC and move in the proper direction.

Q: What do you think of the TNA Parliamentarian R.Sampanthan’s recent speech at the ITAK convention held in Batticaloa. Do you think it’s a step backwards as far as reconciliation is concerned?

A: No. I don’t think so. Because he is talking to the people in his constituency. He has to have a basic party constituency intact. He has to use different hardline words to address them.

I think Sampanthan is the best person to have a deal. Because he has authority and credibility among the international community and Tamil community as well. Sampanthan is the ideal person for a dialogue.

Q: The Increasing crime rate and all other social vices are attributed to the political patronage enjoying by lawless elements. Do you subscribe to this ?

A: We must make a genuine approach in this regard. If we take the Katuwana incident as an example, the law has acted speedily and the Police arrested the person who was allegedly involved.

However, the question is why do we wait till something happens as some may attempt to put the blame on the Police. I would urge the Police to immediately arrest elements who have been issued warrants. On the directive of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Police has been able to arrest a large number of such people and bring underworld characters to book.

No interference was made by the Government when those culprits were arrested. Guidelines have been issued to ASPs and HQIs in all provinces to arrest those who have been issued warrants.

Q: What do you think of the Katuwana incident and the trend of political violence?

A: The Police in this instance acted in a straight forward manner. IGP N.K. Illangakoon is a forthright officer and he must be hard on other Police officers who do not carry out his orders. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa wanted the immediate arrest of criminal elements operating within the country. The Police must carry out orders given by the Defence Secretary.

Q: So far no substantial public management reforms have been implemented to eliminate lethargy, bottlenecks, red tape and “passing the buck” of public service to it dynamic and responsive to people’s aspirations. Why is this?

A: Because our public management reforms are slow. It cannot be done overnight. We have to educate the people and make necessary structural changes. At present my Ministry is engaged in the process of educating public servants. But structural changes must have a link with other ministries and their cooperation is needed. I will recommend these policies and policy guidelines. Sometimes it is frustrating the way some ministries carrying on regardless of people’s asprirations. We must discuss and come to some sort of understanding. My Ministry has no implementation mechanism. We can only recommend policy guidelines. This is the problem that we face.

Q: Tea is no longer the number one foreign exchange earner, due to some Asian and East African countries dominating the tea market. What has gone wrong with Sri Lanka tea?

A: We are undergoing kind of crisis in the tea industry now as prices have dropped. Our production cost has increased. So we are losing some of our markets. I have also an understanding about the tea industry as at one time I was the Deputy Plantation Industries Minister. Until we take certain initiatives to market our tea, we won’t be able to get the price that we gained earlier. I think the Government should intervene and create some institutional mechanism to promote our tea industry by providing the required facilities.

Q: Don’t you think that the takeover of tea, rubber and coconut estates by the 1970 United Front Government resulted in a series of setbacks of the export crop industry. Your comments?

A: I think it caused damage to the industry. During the past, this happened to the transport sector as well. As far as I am concerned, the existing lands in the country must be utilised in a proper way to promote our tea, rubber and coconut cultivations. The Government has given a series of concessions to promote these export crops.

Q: The Central Province which you represent is lagging behind some of the other developed provinces. Do you have any plans to fill this gap. What is the Central Provincial Council role in this connection?

A: There is an issue because development projects have not been balanced properly. We should have a policy to rectify this error and a balanced approach should be adopted to channel funds to develop other provinces as well. As far as the Central Province is concerned, development is taking place. Nobody can say there is no development. If you see the Kandy region, a lot of new roads are coming up. Kandy city and its suburbs have been developed. The reconstructed picturesque 18 Bend Kandy-Mahiyangana Road was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently.

The new Pallekelle Prison constructed by the Government is also scheduled to be opened by the end of this month. I don’t know whether it’s a multifaceted development or not. But there is a vacuum on development plans in the other provinces. This is something which we have to look into.

Q: Don’t you think you could play a more energetic role if you are given a more dynamic Ministry which could contribute directly to the country’s development?

A: I can’t comment. It is up to the President to decide.

Q: The establishment of the Malabe private medical faculty and private universities has turned into a much-debated topic among Opposition political parties. What is your personal view?

A: I think it’s a good move. This would help to save lot of money which goes out of this country. As long as these private medical colleges are established with the accepted standards, I think it’s a good thing. This is all politics. Some political parties want to get political mileage from this issue as well. But we should look at this issue irrespective of political affiliations. As long as the quality of these institutions are guaranteed, I don’t think there will be a problem .

The issue of setting up of private universities is dragging. The establishment of private universities should also be done without further delay and it’s a timely need.

It would also help to market our country and promote the country’s image globally. Investors are willing to come to Sri Lanka. So we should respond positively. If we don’t respond positively, they would go to other countries.

We should have a policy decision regarding the establishment of private universities. We should ensure the guarantee of investments.

These are basic things that we must do. If we want to realise the “Mahinda Chinthana” , we must get more foreign investment to the country. We should create the necessary environment conducive for foreign investors to come here to invest.

If any foreign investor is interested to come here to invest on agriculture or any other projects, we should have a land bank to identify the lands in all districts.

Q: Your father’s legacy is a plus point for your politics. Had you remained in the UNP would’t your political prospects have been brighter?

A: I don’t know that. As a politician, I always maintain the stance that the country should come first. I joined the Government with the intention of extending my support to defeat terrorism and to bring peace to the country.

Actually that happened three years ago under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Now we must have a systematic plan to develop the country.