Maximum relief for masses, Govt’s aim - Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Born and bred in the backwoods of Sabaragamuwa, today Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya represents his people in the national legislature. Apart from politics, he has his interest in art, literature and journalism. He is a regular non-political columnist to a number of Sinhala newspapers.

He has also authored several books where one comes across familiar rural characters such as Sauttu Bandaiya, Booru Martin, Thambimuttu Mudalali and Sopi Achchi as in his latest literary creation “Ulpath Pena”. Minister Siyambalapitiya is a Public Administration graduate of the Sri Jayawardenapura University.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the pledge to give new relief measures through a budget is a highly valid concept in keeping with the “Mahinda Chintana” vision.

Since this Government took office, it has always given every possible relief to the people. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office in 2005, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had already presented a budget. Although President Rajapaksa could have continued one year without presenting a budget, he presented his maiden budget to Parliament within one month after assuming office and announced many relief measures to benefit the people.

This means the country has a leader who is committed to give the maximum relief to the people. Instead of providing relief from a particular date, the Government will launch a wider people-oriented program.

Minister Siyambalapitiya said that we have to realise the fact that there are 1.3 million public servants, out of a 20 million population in this country.

The Government, has to look into the problems of the entire population. Everybody may have problems. Even the highest income earning Governments in the world also want to further increase their income. That is their objective.

This Government has always treated the public servants well and will do the same in the future as well. The ultimate goal should be to uplift the living conditions of the 20 million population including public servants as well.

Commenting on the Opposition’s stand on the Divineguma Bill, the Minister said other than its standard policy of opposing any issue which draws public attention, there is no valid reason for the Opposition to go against the Divineguma bill.

Divineguma is a practical bill introduced to rebuild the country. It has solutions to many problems. The Government through this bill has further ensured democracy.

The UPFA Government has two third majority in Parliament. The Government could, even amend the constitution within a week.

The Government is moving forward in deference to the law.

Q: Now that the budget is round the corner, the people are anxiously waiting to see whether there will be relief on essential commodities. What have you got to say about this?

A: Since the “Mahinda Chintana” was introduced in 2005, every possible relief has been provided to the people even during the height of war against terrorism.

Some were waiting to get relief until the war against terrorism ended. Even when the war had reached a very critical phase in 2008, the Government has allocated Rs.35 billion on the fertiliser subsidy. At that time though the price of a 50Kg bag of fertiliser had gone up to Rs. 9,000 in the World Market, this Government continued to provide a 50 Kg bag of fertiliser to farmers at Rs. 350.

Therefore, the pledge to give series of new relief measures through a budget is not highly valid concept under “Mahinda Chintana” vision. Since this Government came to office, it has always given every possible relief to the people.

When President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office in 2005, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had presented a budget. Although President Rajapaksa could have continued one year without presenting a budget, he presented his budget within one month after assuming office announcing relief to the people. This means the country has a Leader who is committed to give all possible relief to the people. Instead of giving relief from a particular date, the Government will launch a wider people-oriented program.

Q: It had been observed that during the past number of years budgetary deficit has been on the increase. Will there be a bigger budgetary gap this year? What are the measures taken to reduce budget deficit?

A: Actually budget deficit is not a bad thing. There should be budgetary deficit. It means our expenditure is higher than the income. As a developing country, if we just spend the entirety of our income we can’t move forward.

Therefore, there should be a budgetary deficit in a country such as Sri Lanka, and we should control it. If the budget deficit is due to consumption, there is a problem. If it is for development, then it is alright.

Key emphasis should be laid on what stage this budgetary deficit should be maintained and how to find money to bridge the deficit.

This is most important. The Government always decided on the budget deficit through its sound financial management. Therefore, the budget deficit is not a problem for the Government as it was mainly used for country’s development.

The Government had always bridged the deficit in a manner which had led to minimise its expenditure. Among the countries world over Sri Lanka possesses a very successful financial management system. Even during the war against terrorism we never delayed even for a single day in repaying our loans or instalments. I think this should not be made an issue.

Q: State employees are demanding an increase of Rs.10,000 which is fully backed by the Opposition parties. Don’t you think this demand is justifiable due to the present day cost of living?

A: Only an Opposition which is clueless about its time-frame to come to power can make this kind of demand. Even an Opposition which has the strength to capture power after five years cannot make such a statement. An additional sum of Rs.13,000 million is required per month to provide this Rs. 10,000 pay hike to 1.3 million public servants. The country’s total population is about 20 million. When this Rs.13,000 million is divided by the country’s total population of 20 million, the answer is Rs. 650. As we know ninety five percent of the state revenue is earned through various taxes imposed on the people.

If the salaries of public servants are to be increased by Rs. 10,000, every citizen should pay another additional amount of Rs.650 as taxes to the Government per month. Can this be done? A political party which intends to come to power even after 10 years should not make this kind of statement since no Government could meet this demand.

This is only an unethical proposal by a disgruntled Opposition. Since this Government came to power in 2005, salaries of the public servants have been increased by over 80 percent. In addition, the number of public servants has been increased by 300,000 to 400,000 during this period. This Government as pledged in “Mahinda Chintana” has always given the due honour and recognition to the public servant.

But we have realise the fact that there are 1.3 million public servants, as against the country’s 20 million population. As a Government, it has to look into the problems of this entire population. This Government has always treated the public servants well and it will do the same in future as well. But the Government’s ultimate goal should be to uplift the living conditions of the 20 million population.

Q: Financial experts of the Government forecast 8 percent economic growth in 2013. How confident is the Government in achieving this growth rate?

A: When one looks at the Appropriation Bill 2013, it is clear that there is a considerable increase on state investments. Its ultimate objective is to further continue the economic growth in an accelerated manner. This is the best evidence that I can give on the economic growth.

Q: The Government has given a clear picture about the whole set up of the Divineguma Bill. Is there any basis for the Opposition’s allegations on it?

A: As I said earlier this is an allegation levelled by a disgruntled Opposition. The Opposition in other countries conducts in a very responsible manner, since every such Opposition hopes that it will come to power one day. It is regrettable that our Opposition is splitting into factions. At present the main Opposition UNP is in the backstage.

They are looking at this Bill with that mentality. This is like the Rs. 10,000 pay hike demand. The main Opposition UNP is not intelligent enough to think whether they would be able to meet these demands if they come to power one day.

They just make some statement on certain issues. Divineguma Bill is a practical bill introduced to rebuild this country. The Government through introducing this bill has further ensured democracy. We are a Government which has two thirds majority. We can even amend the constitution within a week. Here the Government is moving forward in deference to the law of the country. Except opposing any issue which would receive public attention, there is nothing behind this protest on Divineguma Bill.

The resurgence of the entire country is the most important aspect when we talk about the economic development. The Samurdhi movement has played a pivotal role. Poverty which was at the rate of 26 percent has been brought down to a single digit due to the key contribution made by the Samurdhi movement.

The Government intends to further expedite these activities and amalgamate Samurdhi Authority, Southern Development Authority and Upcountry Development Authority by bringing them under one roof. Over 30,000 youth had made an immense sacrifice at village level to develop Samurdhi movement to this level.

The job satisfaction of these Samurdhi officers has become vital as they have now reached their middle age. To further harness the experience of these Samurdhi officers towards the country’s development, their job security should be ensured in absorbing them to the public service.

The Divineguma Bill has laid key emphasis on how to unite the village and bring all people together. Therefore, the Divineguma Bill has been drafted after taking into consideration all these aspects.

Q: It is the general belief of some economic and political experts that Provincial Councils are a white elephant. As a senior Parliamentarian from Kegalle district, how is your relationship with the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council? Do you also consider Provincial Councils as a white elephant to the national economy?

A: Provincial Council system is one of the key part of our political machinery. I think it is not proper for me to express my personnel view on this matter as a Cabinet Minister. Various persons can interpret this in different ways. This is the time that we should collectively take forward this country with unity. A Cabinet Minister could express his views in general as we have a Parliamentary Group and a Cabinet.

Q: What was the main reason for all media institutions to change the Frequency Modulation channels. Was it purely a technical problem or is there anything else behind it?

A: There is also a technical problem. Although, there should be a control it doesn’t mean that Government attempts to control anything in an unnecessary manner. But there was a time where those FM channels were without proper programs. It is very necessary to bring them under a systematic program. To ensure the forward march of the country, discipline should be maintained in every sector and every person. I think that was the purpose to change these FM channels.

Q: Prices of essential commodities such as wheat flour, dhal and sugar increased during the recent past. Don’t you think it affects the ordinary masses in the country?

A: If I go back to 2008, that was a period during which the Government had waged war against terrorism. What did Winston Churchill who is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the past century tell the British people who he came to power? He asked the people to thighten their belts. He told his people that he can give only blood and tears.

That means he could not adequately provide food to his people. In 2008, our foreign reserves were just enough only for one month to import goods from foreign countries.

Even under these difficult circumstances, the government reduced the tax imposed on essential commodities through a special tax introduced. When the war had reached a very critical phase, the Government income had dropped by Rs. 10 billion due to imposition of this tax.

However, this tax was introduced to provide the maximum relief to the consumers on some selected essential commodities. Instead of thinking of future elections, this Government always takes people-friendly decisions as it has firm confidence in the people.

Q: There is a popular saying that the lack of a vibrant opposition is detrimental to good governance. Does this theory apply to the present Government?

A: Actually this responsibility is entirely with the Opposition. A weak opposition would be helpful for the Government in power. But as I said earlier, I deplore this situation. We would like to see a vibrant opposition in Parliament, because it has a very responsible role to play in Parliament. It should not be like the present Opposition which shouts to get undue publicity by highlighting things which cannot be done practically. An Opposition has lot of facts and figures to highlight in Government’s programs, budget or bills.

There is a need for a vibrant Opposition for the future of the country. Our Government was defeated in 2001 and President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the then Opposition Leader.

We could stand on our own as a strong opposition within the first six months of the UNP regime, because the President as the then Opposition Leader gave the necessary leadership to the opposition. When we were in the Opposition, we could properly perform the role of the opposition. Actually I don’t know whether present Opposition has a leadership or unity.

Q: What could be the reason for the opposition parties such as UNP and TNA not to participate in Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) deliberations? Aren’t they genuinely interested in solving this long-standing issue?

A: I think they don’t fulfill their responsibility properly. They have no hope and also lost their confidence. That is not because of our fault. They always attempt to create unnecessary problems. If the UNP and TNA don’t participate in the PSC, that won’t be a problem for the Government. But it would definitely be a problem for those parties for not fulfilling their duties on behalf of the people.

Q: Some of the Government constituent parties such as NFF, MEP and JHU are vehemently agitating for the immediate abolition of 13th amendment. What have you got to say about it?

A: As a Cabinet Minister of the Government, I don’t want to express my personnel view on this matter. But this shows the democracy within the UPFA. If we consider SLFP alone, it has the highest number of MPs in Parliament.

But we have given the opportunity even to some constituent parties of the UPFA which have only a single member in Parliament to express their views in public and we never clash with each other and we respect their views.

The “Mahinda Chintana” era can be described as the best during which democracy has reached the highest level, since independence.

Q: What led the Government to move an impeachment motion against the Chief Justice?

A: There is a law in this country. Under that law, if any injustice has been made to anybody, he should be able to present his facts. If the government believes if any injustice has been made, the Government take steps according the constitution which the basic law in the country.

This is a right which every citizen is entitled to. The impeachment against the Chief Justice is not a new thing. Earlier such motions against former Chief Justices, Nevil Samarakoon and Sarath N. Silva.

We have given priority to the existing law in the country. The Government believes an injustice has been done to the Government and it is now dealing with that matter legally. There was an era during which stones were thrown at the houses of judges by those who were not satisfied with these judgements given.

Some of those who are talking about this issue also resorted to such acts. This Government has never resorted to such acts. It will only seek the legal advise on this issue.