Tamils need democratic leaders - Minister Dinesh Gunawardena

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The son of a revolutionary father dubbed as the “Father of Marxism in Sri Lanka” and the mother equally immersed in Marxist thoughts, Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had a distinguished scholastic career in Sri Lanka and abroad. No doubt, Marxism, proletariat, bourgeosie, Lenin and Trotsky would have been household words for the Gunawardena siblings. Following the family tradition, he plunged into politics at a comparatively young age and has held many ministerial portfolios to date.

Minister Gunawardena in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the Government has committed itself to a clear plan and step by step achieved what was pledged. Therefore, the Government has been able to win the confidence of the international community except for a few who continue to pressurise the government. The Minister said he believes the Government’s positive approach will change this situation.

Minister Gunawardena said: “The elements who supported a separate State and terrorism have not disappeared. Politically they still have links and sympathy for the forces abroad that have been funding and helping them. They will try to misrepresent Sri Lanka’s positive progress. Democratic elections have been held in the country including the Local Government elections in the North and the East. A massive development drive is taking place today.

The Government has reached the targets laid down by the international community in demining and we are far ahead. Let us not forget that the terrorists annihilated all democratic Tamil leaders. The Tamil community needs leaders who are above those who are orchestrated by foreign elements to destabilize Sri Lanka and the whole of South Asia”.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Police and land powers are a major stumbling block in the TNA demands. But full power devolution is the panacea for all ills according to its proponents. What is your stand on this?

A: Of course there were clear issues raised when the 13th Amendment was brought into Parliament as a Bill. Legal arguments in the Supreme Court gave warnings in relation to the 13th Amendment. Today we are experiencing the crisis of enacting legislation without studying in depth the possible consequences. The gist of the issue is whether Sri Lanka is to be a unitary State or a federal State.

The Sharwananda judgement and the judgements of Parinda Ranasinghe and Raja Wanasundara analysed the possible crisis and how the unitary State and the supremacy of Parliament could be kept intact.

The issue before us is, how could we protect the unitary State or are we going to change into a federal system? It should be ensured that all the communities, especially the minorities should not be deprived of their rights and their share of the national wealth and development. We can devolve government institutions while maintaining the unitary State with the participation of all Sri Lankans in decision making.

Q: Some political theorists maintain that power devolution is O.K. for big countries such as India, America or France whose forces are all powerful to root out any secessionist elements. A small country like Sri Lanka fought a 30-year war on terrorism. Are there any lessons to be learnt from these developments?

A: Yes. We have adopted the pattern of the Indian Constitution. I believe Sri Lanka has had a much more effective devolution in the grass roots, which was ignored at that time because of the demand for separatism.

The 13th Amendment did not meet the demand for separatism. Because of that the most disastrous war on terrorism took place. Thirty years have lapsed since then. The experience in my own thinking as a Member of Parliament and not as a Government Member is that the 13th Amendment has been a failure and has not brought any solution to the issues of the North nor to the other parts of the country.

We have created an institution which is wasting public funds. All the work at grass roots level can be facilitated by the centre working with local government bodies.

Q: Citing the EPF investment in the Stock Exchange, criticism is levelled that the Divi Neguma Development Fund worth over Rs. 80 billion is under the dictates of a Minister. Could you explain this?

A: I think everyone is answerable to Parliament and it is clearly stated in the Constitution. These are exaggerated views. The Divi Neguma will generate tremendous impetuous for development. The critics are interested in obstructing the development in the country.

There are issues that have been accepted nationally and they have to be tackled separately, such as poverty and the uplifting of the rural population.

These issues are targeted in this program which has come a long way and has to go a long way for which the Divi Neguma Bill has been drafted. The Economic Development Ministry is involved in over 10,000 projects.

Divi Neguma has brought every household into a new inspiration to participate in agricultural and related development.

This awakening is necessary for any country. The Government has taken on the challenge of development. If development is to be taken off, necessary legislation has to be introduced.

On the criticism in relation to managing public funds if changes are necessary, Parliament could make such changes and establish a Sub Committee. Parliament has COPE, PSC and other controls as well. Under the 13th Amendment those who oppose the Divi Neguma do not want development and only want more power to the Provincial Councils.

The country has given a mandate and the Budget has approved the Divi Neguma. The budget proposals have to be carried forward.

Q: There are public calls to abolish the 13th Amendment which has failed to fulfil its objectives in addition to being unproductive. Your comments?

A: As I said before I believe the 13th Amendment has not fulfilled or achieved what was intended, rather it has achieved what was not intended. The heavy financial burden that we are carrying could be put into better use in the rural areas without the Provincial Councils. The argument is when there were no Provincial Councils would we have not developed. As a Member of Parliament, I have always observed these principles. Education and health are national programs which cannot be handled by irresponsible regional centres. Sri Lanka’s greatest achievement today is that we are ahead of all leading countries in Asia.

It is because of health and education. They are two qualifications we have above all other South Asian countries. I would say today it is in disarray.

The Central Education Ministry handles little while the province handles the majority. So the 13th Amendment has to be restudied. I am not speaking for the Government, we have always proposed that the district is the better, effective and positive centre at district level. It would be more development oriented.

Q: Sri Lanka’s import bill for dairy products runs into billions despite the potential for self sufficiency. What has gone wrong with these successive plans for self sufficiency?

A: None of the successive plans has been implemented in a short term. Now a serious attempt is being made under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Livestock Development Minister Arumugam Thondaman to develop the dairy industry. It is time that Sri Lanka achieved at least 70 percent of its goal which would be a big saving of foreign exchange and better nourishment to the dairy families in rural areas.

We have to improve the breeding of cattles. It will not happen overnight. Plans have to be implemented and coordinated to achieve it.

Q: How do you look at the stand-off between the legislature and the judiciary?

A: Sri Lanka’s 1978 Constitution has mentioned three bodies -judiciary, legislature and the executive. All three have to support one another for the preservation and functioning of the State intended under the Constitution.

There have been judgments by the legislature and they have been called supreme so that the legislature has the right to interfere as a check mate. So the legislature has a major role to play. We legislate because we have a mandate of the people whom we represent in the legislature.

We are elected to represent. So the legislature intends to legislate to fulfil the intentions of the people within the constitution. There have been instances of different opinions. But differences of opinion have been settled with national State consensus, democratically. So the three bodies have to work together, and the supremacy of the legislature accepted as is in the constitution.

Q:Despite the LLRC recommendations being implemented and peace and order prevailing in the country, the bogey of human rights is being invoked by unpatriotic elements. Would you explain this?

A: Of course the elements who supported a separate State and terrorism have not all disappeared. Politically they still have links and sympathy for the forces abroad that have been funding and helping them. We have held democratic elections, including the Local Government elections in the North and the East.

A massive development drive is taking place. We have reached the targets laid down by the international community for demining and we are far ahead of the targets. No one is talking about the developments. In order to resettle the people, demining and development have to take place which are being delivered. Let us not forget that the terrorists annihilated all democratic Tamil leaders. I could give a dozen names starting with Amirthalingam.

The Tamil community needs leaders who could be above others orchestrated by foreign elements to destabilize Sri Lanka and the whole of South Asia. This is the overall game plan towards which they would work continuously.

The President and the Government have always committed themselves to a clear plan and step by step achieved what they pledged. We have been able to win the confidence of the international community except for a few who continue to pressurise the government. Our continuous positive approach will change the situation.

Q: Water is likely to be the most precious commodity. Do you have any plans to eliminate waste and regulate consumption? Don’t you think of the need for a public awareness program?

A: Public awareness receives high priority in all sectors. Water is related to- water for agriculture, water for hydro power, water for industries and water for drinking.

We have to share the water that is available and we have to make maximum use of treated water. Treated water is costly and is not necessary for washing cars or the roads. Treated water for human consumption and better sanitation should be the source which we target. Overall our natural forest cover is under threat.

The country and the decision makers must realise this and plans implemented. As Sri Lanka is still rich in water sources, it is tipped to be safe in the next 25 years. But if we destroy our own resources, we will be in a crisis. Every drop of water that is wasted must be prevented.

Q: New electoral reforms could be a catalyst for a wholesome representative system. Could you elaborate on your committee’s work in this connection?

A: I chaired two committees of two parliaments. One was during the UNP regime where I was elected as the chairman. I moved the Private Member’s Motion for changing the electoral system. Thereafter, the Government made many recommendations, of which the major recommendation was implemented recently after the President directed to change the PR system introduced by the 1978 Constitution to First Past the Post and PR combination.

This system contains more from the First Past the Post and less from the PR system. It is a very important change where you have a member in your locality closer to you as well as you give representation to those who are not defeated, but still polled a fair number of votes.

I believe even in the Commonwealth, Sri Lanka would be the first country that introduced the multi- member system at the local government body which would give a chance for much representation. It is a major change that is taking place. We hope this change would take the next few steps into other election levels.

Q: Today the main Opposition UNP is in total disarray due to the leadership crisis. Is the Government comfortable with this situation or demand a vibrant Opposition?

A: We have always said that there has to be a vibrant Opposition. But we can’t run affairs for the UNP. It is for the UNP to run their own affairs.

Q:Gunawardene celebrities have left an indelible imprint on national politics. Will there be successors to the present incumbents to continue the family tradition?

A: That is for the future to decide, not myself.