Opposition in shambles, Govt’s victory assured - Minister Maithripala Sirisena

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

SLFP General Secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena suave in manners and forthright in words, he has no problems in the political arena.

He has stormed many a weather in the political tinder box. Minister Sirisena in an interview with the Sunday Observer said in a situation where the Opposition is in total disarray and split into several factions, the Government has no doubt about its victory at the upcoming Provincial Council polls since the majority of the people are with the Government.

The Minister said the Opposition is disorganiszed today. It had gone to courts seeking an order to have the North Central and the Eastern Provincial council election postponed.

If the Opposition is in a position to win the elections, they would have never gone to courts. The opposition have faced severe setbacks.

The SLFP took the decision not to give nominations to the family members of the Government politicians. The SLFP maintains that more opportunities should be provided to those who work for the party at village level to be emerging politicians. That is why the SLFP Central Committee has decided to introduce new intelligent, competent and popular candidates to each district in the three provinces.

Q: Whenever Dengue takes epidemic proportions the health sector gets activated and falls back after sometime. Why is this? Is there no permanent solution for this?

A: Actually it is only the media which highlights that the health sector gets activated when dengue takes epidemic proportions. A coordinated program is being implemented to combat dengue. As a result, there is a significant drop in spread of dengue. Therefore, there is no epidemic or high epidemic proportions as highlighted by the media.

These are media speculations and these words are also used by the media. During the past six months, 74 persons had died of dengue. There is however a decline in the percentage of dengue-related deaths when compared to the number of deaths in the past few years.

The Ministry program to combat dengue has become very successful. Today, the number of patients in hospitals is very low.

Dengue is not a problem confined only to Sri Lanka. It has become a serious problem to our neighbouring countries as well. Therefore, people should extend their support for the Ministry programme. It took 80 years for us to eradicate Malaria.

Water-clogged drains and dust have become dengue breeding grounds and as such dengue has become a serious problem to all tropical countries. In the past two years, the Ministry was in operations. A Presidential Task Force has also been established to combat dengue while all the Ministries have collaborated to make this program, a success. I can say with responsibility that our dengue prevention campaign is in a good stage when compared to other countries in the world. Some countries have not succeeded in dengue control.

Q: Frauds, scams and other irregularities are food for the Opposition. Have any of the culprits been brought to book?

A: If there is any fraud or irregularity in the health sector, the Ministry will investigate them and no excuse will be given to the culprits.

If any complaint is received, the Ministry will definitely investigate such fraud or irregularity and will bring the culprits to book. We have taken disciplinary action against such errant officials. We are determined to take action against anyone who is engaged in any fraud or irregularity in the health sector.

Q: Is there any effective mechanism to deal with public complaints against the private hospitals, specially unconscionable medical bills, lack of facilities and outdated plants?

A: There is a public complaint section at the Health Ministry. Anybody can make their complain to that section or the Health Minister. Steps will be taken to look into those complaints. But we have not received any complaints regarding the use of any outdated plants by any private hospital.

Q: Very often the mass media and the Opposition complain against drug shortages in hospitals and low quality drugs. Cannot there be a permanent regulatory body to streamline this and ensure quality drugs?

A: There is a market to drugs too. Sometimes there is a drug shortage in the market, which is not due to our fault.

There are certain occasions where the tenderer does not supply drugs on time or they supply less than the amount intended. Ninety nine percent of the drugs imported.

All those drug manufacturers are multinational companies. In providing health services to the people, we have to deal with the businessmen. We are not in a position to control their drug business. In certain instances, shortages are also created in the market on essential food commodities. So with the drugs too. Drug shortages are created even in private hospitals from time to time. This is the actual situation and it is not a new phenomenon.

The problem is that nearly all drugs are imported. If we can produce almost all our drugs locally, there won’t be a drug shortage. But this is not an easy task for a country such as Sri Lanka. At present the State Pharmaceutical Corporation produces nearly 40 items of drugs while the private sector produce another 40.

The need is for 1600 to 1700 items. Of this total required, we don’t produce even 100 items locally. Sometimes, we come across problems as most of the drugs are imported. We should realise that the world has changed from what it was 20 or 25 years ago. The Government cannot control the commercial or business world.

Q: According to the media new chief ministerial candidates will be nominated for the North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provincial Councils. Unless honest and competent people are appointed, there won’t be any difference in the administration. Your comments?

A: Our party Central Committee will decide on the chief ministerial candidates and other candidates for the three Provincial Councils. The nomination boards met on Friday to select the candidates.

The party Central Committee has to approve the names of those candidates selected. A final decision will be taken on the chief ministerial candidates.

Q: It appears that holding Provincial Council elections at this moment when large parts of the country have been affected by the drought with imminent rice and energy shortages, escalating prices of goods, is not a wise move. What have you got to say about this?

A: Despite extreme weather changes or other natural calamities, there is an election schedule to conduct elections. We cannot change the schedule. We remember the catastrophe faced by the US recently due to a cyclone and also the situation in India due to floods.

Countries have to face this kind of natural calamities and other climatic changes from time to time. No country can prevent such natural calamities. Therefore, this is a common phenomenon in every country.

Q: What is the Government’s strategy to win the Provincial Council elections?

A: We have no problem about our victory. The Government will secure a resounding victory in all three Provincial Councils. At present the Opposition is disorganised. It has gone to courts to seeking an order to postpone the elections in the North Central and the Eastern Provinces.

If the Opposition could win the provincial councils, they would have never gone to courts. At present an election fear has been created among the Opposition parties.

In a situation where the Opposition is in total disarray and split into several factions, the Government is sure of its victory. Majority of the people remain with the Government.

Q: The Government has decided not to give nominations to the family members of Government politicians. What led the Government to take such a decision?

A: It was the SLFP which took that decision and not the Government. The SLFP took this decision so as to provide more opportunities to the youth to contest the election. If the Ministers wish to field their family members as candidates, they can resign from their portfolios and substitute their family members.

The SLFP maintains that more opportunities should be given to those who work for the party at village level to become politicians. We hope to introduce new intelligent, competent and popular young candidates to each district in the provinces.

Q: The Opposition alleges that law and order is not properly functioning and the Police are not performing its duties due to political interference. What is the actual position?

A: Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe or the UNP has no moral right to level such allegations. The people are well aware of what the UNP did during their regime. Sometimes even the UNP must have forgotten these things. But we have not forgotten the wrongdoings committed by the UNP during its 17 years rule by misusing political power.

The people know what happened during the regimes of J. R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe. One could see how the UNP ruled the country from 2002 to 2003 as well. No UNP leader has the right to speak on democracy, human rights, state properties, misuse of political power or good governance. A few new comers of the UNP are always shouting in and outside the Parliament.

But they don’t know what the UNP is as they were not in Parliament when the UNP was in power. We know how the UNP conducted whenever they were in power.

Q: It is believed that certain downright reactionary forces are behind the anti-Sri Lanka campaign abroad. Some of them are disgruntled politicians, trade unionists and media people. What have you got to say about this situation?

A: All these attempts are being made to grab power. On the other hand, those who demand Eelam are still fighting for it. The UNP has also resorted to various dastardly acts to grab power.

Various strategies such as internet, media, mud slinging campaigns, rumours and character assassination are also used to gain power. Politically, such activities do not have any quality or value.

The Opposition should have a meaningful program to win the people over. The Opposition does not have such a program. Actually they don’t know what is the meaning of quality politics? The Opposition has resorted to various anti-government campaigns.

They have gained local and international support while the pro-LTTE elements and various imperialistic forces who are against us have also extended their support to the Opposition campaign. This is the normal political atmosphere in most countries and not confined only to Sri Lanka. Rule the country means to face these challenges as well.

Q: Health administration is a tough job. Since assuming office, you seem to be traversing a difficult path with circumspection. What is the secret of your success?

A: That is mainly due to the cordial relations maintained with the employees. We should work and win over the trade unions, employees and Heads of the Departments. We should also respect their ideas and welcome suggestions.

We all should work as a team so that it would help minimise problems. In most instances, friction arose due to deliberate attempts made to fault employees.