Legislature and judiciary should work hand in hand - Minister Lakshman Senewiratne

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Productivity Promotion Minister Lakshman Senewiratne said the present stand off between the judiciary and the legislature is unfortunate. The Judiciary and the legislature should work hand in hand. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that if there is a stand off between the judiciary and the legislature, development will come to a standstill. Some elements which tried to destabilise this country over the past 30 years tried every possible strategy to realise its goal. But, they could not do so. Now they resort to other ways to destabilise the Government and the country.

The Minister said there could be problems and ups and downs in a country. Our neighbouring countries and other countries are also faced with various problems. Some countries have even collapsed. If what we are doing is all right, why should our people try to destabilise the country. People should give serious thought to these things and find out who is behind it.

Commenting on the lackadaisical attitude of the main Opposition UNP in not participating in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the North-East problem, Minister Senewiratne said that the UNP should ensure its representation in the PSC and voice their opinion, since the 13th Amendment is its baby. When I was in the UNP, we all knew that there were drawbacks in the 13th Amendment. Certain things need to be changed and accordingly we have to give effect to them.

Q: Have the 2013 budget proposals adequately addressed the needs of the Productivity Promotion Ministry?

A: There are certain aspects of it. Whatever the provision made, it is not adequate for any Ministry. That is the usual phenomenon. But you have to look at it from a different angle. Huge amounts of money have been allocated for infrastructure development. This is what we mostly need at present. If we can complete our projects within five months, then we could seek more money.

That is our plan. We have already discussed with the Treasury Budget Department. Allocations will be made based on our performance. We can get more money depending on our performance.

Q: What is the productivity promotion’s contribution to the GDP? Are there any projects launched by your Ministry to improve productivity?

A: Actually this is entirely a new subject and a new Ministry. During the past two years, there were only 200 applicants for Productivity Awards. This year the Productivity Awards ceremony is going to be held on December 4 under the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. This time there are 2,400 applicants. That is the difference. Productivity Awards will be made compulsory for all the Government sector agencies with effect from January 2013. Best practices will be introduced.

Another system to be introduced from January will rank all the Government departments. We may not be able to do a perfect job, we have to start from somewhere. We will plan this in three years time so that we could have a perfect system.

Q: What is the progress made by Sewanagala after being taken over by the Government?

A: The simple answer is that it has earned a Rs.790 million net profit within ten months. During the past ten months, farmers who had cultivated other crops in 800 hectares have switched to sugarcane cultivation, because they realized they can get a better income and prosper through sugarcane cultivation. President Mahinda Rajapaksa did the appropriate thing at the right time. At the time we took over Sewanagala, farmers were paid only Rs.3,000 per ton of sugarcane. At present it has been increased to Rs.4,000. So the farmers have benefited.

Earlier instead of proper fertiliser for sugarcane, farmers were given phosphate and charged treble that amount. As a result farmer became the looser while the owner, the winner. After we took over Sewanagala, we gave real fertilizer to the farmers. The former owner had his own bank to provide loans to farmers.

He had given loans to the farmers at 18 percent interest rate. We have reduced this to 12 percent. Actually it should be 8 percent, because 4 percent again goes back to the farmers through their Social Welfare Fund. So the fund is there if anything happens to the farming community, their families or children. That is how we won the hearts of the farmers. The people who have cultivated other crops have reverted to sugarcane cultivation.

During the past 10 years, sugar production of Sewanagala had gone down badly. When we took over it was less than 5,000 metric tons per annum. During a short span of 10 months the sugar production has increased to 10,000 metric tons.

The previous owner had produced 30 percent of alcohol spirit and only 14 percent of sugar from a ton of sugarcane. I did turn it the other way around. Alcohol or spirit is a by product of sugar. Sugar is not a by product of alcohol. For his own benefit the owner had reversed the process.

We did the right thing. Today we are selling a kilogram of brown sugar to Sathosa for Rs.80. A kilo of brown sugar is sold by Sathosa for Rs.88 or Rs.90. After we took over Sewanagala, we could earn a Rs.790 million profit within 10 months. What happened to profits earned earlier? In simple language I should say it was siphoned off.

Q: The UNP claims that the Appropriation Bill 2013 is illegal sans the amendments proposed by the Supreme Court. What have you got to say about this?

A: We have to look at it from a different angle. If there is a Government with a simple majority, that Government will collapse. So with that Supreme Court judgement, no Government can function in future due to lack of two thirds majority, because at every time when a budget is passed, we have to have a two-thirds majority. Then each year, we have to go for elections as the Government will collapse, because it’s a finance budget.

Then the country will be in total disarray. There will be chaos. How can you perform? What Government could survive? The present Government has two-thirds majority. If a Government does not have two thirds majority, what will happen? Let’s imagine Ranil Wickremesinghe forms a Government tomorrow. Under this system, it’s very difficult to secure a two-thirds majority.

The late President R. Premadasa had only 125 MPs in Parliament. In 1994, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had only a one vote majority. Can you imagine how complicated it’s going to be due to this kind of decisions being taken. The country and its people should be made aware of it. Actually there is only one purpose behind all these.

That is to destabilise the Government and the country. Who will say the budget has to be passed by a two-thirds majority. There is only one intention behind this that is to destabilise Sri Lanka.

Q: The Opposition very often attacks the Government on the enormity of foreign debts alleging that repayment will take decades. Your comments?

A: I also did the same thing when I was in the UNP. All of us used to speak about this very often quietly among ourselves. Let me tell you the truth. Ranil Wickremesinghe told us that President Rajapaksa is getting money and developing the country.

When can we form a Government with this kind of massive infrastructure development in the country? This kind of development should have taken place a long time ago. But it never happened. I go to Mahiyangana via Kandy.

Its one hour and fifteen minutes drive today from Kandy to Mahiyangana. Its one hour journey from Colombo to Galle via Southern express way. It will be two hours drive from Colombo to Hambantota by the end of 2013. In five years time, it would be one hour drive from Colombo to Kandy. Imagine Lakshman Seneviratne travels from Colombo to Mahiyangana in two hours and fifteen minutes in five years time! This is real development.

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe did not launch even a single project under the Regaining Sri Lankan Program. Every Sri Lankan who returns to the country after at least one year will be amazed to witness the city beautification. Even foreigners are impressed with this Colombo city beautification. Other cities are also being developed. This is what we need in this country.

Q: Would you like to comment on the present stand off between the judiciary and the legislature?

A: It is a very unfortunate situation. Judiciary and legislature should work hand in hand. In a country if there is any stand off between these two institutions, the development and everything could come to a standstill. That is what is going to happen.

If there was a case in courts, even in lower courts, we never said anything about it on the floor of the House, since it’s a subjudice. That’s how we respect the country’s judiciary as Parliamentarians. Some elements tried to destabilize the country over the past 30 years. Although they employed every strategy to destabilize, they could not do so.

There are problems in a country. Our neighboring countries and other countries too have problems. Some countries have even collapsed. If what we are doing is right, why should our people try to destabilize the country? Who is behind this? People should give serious thought to these matters.

Q: There are arguments for and against the 13th Amendment by the constituent parties of the UPFA Government. What are your views on this?

A: The Constitution has to be amended when necessary. I was also a UNPer. During the UNP regime, the Constitution had been amended 16 times and therefore they have no right to oppose amending the Constitution.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on the floor of the House that if there are drawbacks in the 13th Amendment it had to be rectified.

As we all know there are drawbacks in the 3th Amendment. This is something forced on Sri Lanka. Due to the Indian factor, President J.R. Jayawardene was forced to accept it as he had no option. The constituent parties of the UPFA also have the right to talk about this. The most important thing is that in open forum they air their views. We should give them a little time as they have to reach a conclusion. Then we all can get together and decide. We opposed to accept it, which is like a forced marriage which will not last long.

Q: The Opposition alleges that the 2013 Budgetary Proposals have benefited only a handful of people who are leading luxurious lives and completely forgotten the poor. Is there any truth in these allegations?

A: If you study all the Hanzards relating to budget debates from 1994, in every budget debate these very same words have been expressed by the Opposition. We should not waste time to talk about it. Being in the Opposition they have to think differently.

Q: What have you got to say about the lackadaisical attitude of the main Opposition UNP towards the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the North-East problem?

A: It is very unfortunate. I wish they will make their representation as the main Opposition party. They should express opinions since the 13th Amendment is their baby. When I was in the UNP, we all knew that there are drawbacks in 13th Amendment. Certain things had to be changed. If there is anything to be changed, we will have to effect such changes.

Q: Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has managed to strengthen his position in the party amidst opposition from some of his own party stalwarts. Is this correct or justifiable in the context of democracy?

A: They were talking about the 18th amendment. Most of my UNP friends said on the floor of the House that it was a nasty thing to change the Constitution. They said it was very unfair. I have been in Parliament over the past 25 years. In my reply I told them that President J.R. Jayewardene wanted to change the Constitution in 1988. We should not forget that he had five-sixths majority in Parliament – not two thirds majority.

But he did not have that majority in the country. Then the Party and specially Ranjan Wijeratne told him not to do it. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga also wanted to change the Constitution so that she can be the Leader for the third consecutive period as well. President Mahainda Rajapaksa did it. He has a two-thirds majority. He has a wider support in the country than the two-thirds majority in Parliament. Now the Opposition Leader says it is irregular and unlawful. But he is changing his party’s constitution to consolidate his party leadership for another six years. I wish to say only one thing-may god bless him! If Ranil Wickremesinghe can be there so long, why cannot President Mahinda Rajapaksa continue to stay in power?

Q: Uva is economically or socially not on far with other provinces. Are there any development projects meant to fill the gap?

A: At present lots of development activities have been launched in Uva. Roads and schools are being built while infrastructure facilities are being developed. The education level has gone up in Uva province. Sugarcane cultivation has also been expanded in Badulla district. We might be able to put up a couple of big sugar factories in Moneragala area. Somebody can say there are problems in Uva. For Pelawatta and Moneragala sugar factories, I don’t have a sufficient number of labourers during the harvesting period. I had to get prisoners from Prisons Department to cut the sugarcane last year.

Q: Your father had been a prominent Parliamentarian and able Minister who had made his mark in the political history of the country. Did he groom you to succeed him in your political bastion? Do you groom anybody to succeed you?

A: My father was a very nice gentleman. He groomed me. My children are not in Sri Lanka. I don’t know whether any of my children will join politics. Really my wife doesn’t like politics at all. So let’s leave it to the future. But I would like if one of my children will engage in politics. I have two sons and a daughter. They all are engineers. If any of them decides to pursue politics, they will perform well as they are academically qualified. But it is entirely up to them to take a decision. Even though I am for it, my good wife is not. So I have to listen to the boss!