Internal matters could be resolved in Sri Lanka, not Geneva - Minister Rajitha Senaratne

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

His revolutionary zeal during his student days was the springboard to politics. Despite being aligned with different political camps in the past, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne never compromised his political ideals. In fact, he weathered all political storms having sticked to his policies. Threats to his life culminated in several assassination attempts by his enemies. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said, “We may have problems or other ideological differences. We should settle all such internal matters within the country itself and not in Geneva or any other place. We should have the courage and vision to settle our internal problems ourselves and there should be a good dialogue for it. Whether Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe signs an MoU or not with the Government, it is his responsibility to defend the country.”

The Minister said it is not only the Government, but the Opposition too should get together to reach consensus to find a lasting solution to problems of the minorities. This should be the main concern of all political parties. After the war against terrorism was concluded we had a golden opportunity to make Sri Lanka another Singapore, Malaysia or Korea. At present massive development projects have been launched. The development in the North is tremendous. Therefore, all political parties should get together to rebuild a dignified Sri Lankan nation. The dignity of all Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities should be maintained. This is how we can create a true Sri Lankan nation.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Fishing is full of uncertainties and danger to life. Could you enumerate what your Ministry has done to alleviate the misery of fishermen and their families and how far they have been productive? Is there any risk insurance scheme for them?

A: Nobody can say that fishermen are insecure today. They are only insecure in the sea. But, when we introduce our vessel monitoring system, their insecurity will be over.

There will be an alarm system with a transponder installed in each vessel. It will caution the fishermen if they cross the international maritime borders. There will be warning signals and warning sound systems one mile ahead of the international borders.

If the vessel is sinking or about to face an imminent danger, the red button could be pressed so that all our centres will be alerted to dispatch rescue missions. There will also be satellite phones provided for the fishermen to communicate with anybody. So the family members will know where their kith and kin is in the sea. After over 55 years, we have introduced an insurance scheme and a pension scheme entitling the fishermen to Rs. 10,000 per month. I think fishermen are now secure with all these facilities.

There is some insecurity for the Northern fishermen mainly due to Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan seas. The Fisheries Ministry in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Navy has taken into custody many Indian vessels which had crossed into our territorial waters. We have also remanded those Indian poaching fishermen. In the past, the arrested poachers were released next day on the request of the Indian High Commission. This time all Indian fishermen who poached in Sri Lankan seas were arrested and remanded until March 28. Their vessels have been seized. The correct procedure is being followed. The northern fishermen are happy today. Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage is doing a fine job to protect our fishermen from the Indian poaching vessels. The Navy has also seized illegal fishing gear. With the implementation of progressive measures introduced by the Fisheries Ministry, the future of fishermen will be much securre.

Q: Fish industry could be diversified by popularizing sea food among the Sri Lankans as it is rich in protein. Has the feasibility of sea food been studied?

A: Of the total animal protein consumed by the Sri Lankans, 72 percent is obtained from fish. All over the world only 25 percent of people eat fish for animal protein. But in Sri Lanka it was over 72 percent when I took over this Ministry.

Nearly 80 percent of people are consuming fish today. So fish is the best protein supplier for the people. That is why I have started the campaign to eradicate malnutrition among the children. Malnutrition is mainly due to the food protein deficiency. Therefore, fish is the only weapon to rectify protein deficiency in our children.

To get rid of the protein deficiency, everybody needs to consume 66 grams of fish daily. Now we are going for that target. When I assumed office in 2009, it was only 28 grams which a person consumed. Now it has risen to 39.4 grams. We are in fact improving the protein nourishment of the people. Our fish production has also increased from 339,000 Metric tons to 486,000 Metric tons from 2009 to 2012. This shows that the local fish production has increased by nearly 50 percent. This is the highest fish production in the history of Sri Lanka.

We have also introduced Diyawara Diriya loan scheme under which we have already given one billion worth of loans on 5.5 percent interest rate. Over Rs. 2 million worth of loans have been given to the Northern fishermen at 8 percent interest. Of the total interest, the Government pays 4 percent. In addition to paying 4 percent interest, the Government also pays 25 percent of the loans obtained by the Northern fishermen.

This year we have planned to disburse loans amounting to Rs. 2 billion to fishermen. At present fishermen have bought a great deal of boats and fishing gear which points to the fact that the fishing industry has been improved much. We have also distributed boats, engines and fishing nets to poor fishermen. Fish, fish boxes, scales and bicycles have been distributed among fishermen, to facilitate their fish sales.

Q: Poaching in Sri Lankan seas has now become a regular exercise by Tamil Nadu fishermen. Cannot there be a permanent solution to this illegal practice other than poachers being arrested and later released?

A: There is no permanent solution to this issue. Due to the Tamil Nadu pressure, the Indian Government has no plan to stop this. Tamil Nadu fishermen are trained only for bottom trawling which is banned in Sri Lanka. When they do bottom trawling, they not only destroy fish, but also corals and other sea plants.

Hundreds or sometimes thousands of Indian fishermen are trespassing our territorial waters. So the only way is for the Navy and the Coast Guard to maintain an effective monitoring system and arrest Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan seas. Now the poaching is almost stopped due to a series of arrests during the last week. That is why there is more agitation in the Tamil Nadu these days. This is the only way we can address this problem and protect our fishermen.

Q: Is there any merit in Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal for a new political culture which could neutralize hostility against Sri Lanka by the international forces?

A: I don’t know why the Opposition Leader is suddenly proposing this to the Government. During the last few months, he knew that the UNHRC sessions would be held in Geneva in March. He should have proposed this and got down to work with the Government for a joint mechanism sometime ago.

The US sponsored resolution has since been presented and our response had already been made. So there is no need now for the Opposition and the Government to get together and act since the issue had become international. Once the US-sponsored resolution is moved and when it reaches the point of voting any arrangement as contemplated by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will be of no use.

The countries will either vote with the US resolution or vote against it. Therefore, I don’t know why Wickremesinghe is proposing this right now. If he is sincere, he should have proposed it much earlier. He may have proposed this with an ulterior motive. I can’t understand politically what the reason is.

Q: The COPE reports have attributed mismanagement, non-compliance of financial procedures and other Government rules and regulations and impunity on the part of wrong-doers to the regular losses in many corporations. Your comments?

A: It is not so in almost all corporations. There are certain corporations running at a loss. Most of them have since been improved. There are those running at a profit, but the profits have dropped. The COPE identifies only the corporations running on profits. There are some corporations with very big margin losses and such losses have been reduced to some extent now. The COPE has commended almost all corporations under my ministry.

But there are certain corporations which have not shown any improvement at all. This is mainly due to mismanagement and various other reasons. Actually, the COPE is doing a marvellous job under the chairmanship of Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera.

He has not politicised the COPE and he never tries to take political advantage from the COPE. As COPE Chairman, he makes practical recommendations, discusses how to improve the corporations which are running at a loss. Reasons for losses are identified and reported by the COPE. That is good for the Government to take further action to improve their performance.

Q: The Opposition and other political critics could settle their scores with the Government on domestic issues. In the current situation in which international hostility is directed against Sri Lanka, should not the Opposition stand by the Government and safeguard national sovereignty?

A: Yes. That is what even Ranil Wickremesinghe says - that if the Government signs an MoU he will support. He will support whom? Not the Government. In Geneva it is Sri Lanka, not Mahinda Rajapaksa Government which is trying to defend itself. Whether he signs an MoU or not with the Government, it is his responsibility to defend his own country. We may have our problems and other ideological differences.

But my position is that we should settle all those problems ourselves and not in Geneva or any other place. We should have the courage and vision to settle our internal problems. There should be a very good dialogue for it. It is not only the Government but the Opposition too should cooperate to seek a lasting solution to the problems of the Tamils.

The development in the North is tremendous. All political parties should get together to rebuild a united Sri Lankan nation. Dignity of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities should be preserved.

Q: In the next decade or so Asia led by China, Japan and South Korea with other East Asian economic giants will dominate the world economic order. How would you look at this scenario?

A: It is not only those countries, but if we can settle our problems, we could also be a viable stakeholder. Sri Lanka is going to be the next economic hub - the day our outstanding problems are settled. We have settled the terrorist problem. We can be the “Wonder of Asia” and there is no problem about it. With economic giants such as India, China, Korea and Singapore, Sri Lanka being a small nation, can also be one among such giants.

Q: Economic hitmen seem to be behind the Ethanol scandal while the tug-of-war between the Customs and Excise Departments is not in the national interest. Is this not a reflection on the revenue earning departments of the Government?

A: Definitely. Whoever has imported this, it is very easy to find who the culprit is. There must be a person who has imported this and he should be taken to task. The Customs and the Government should take stern action against those responsible. There must be order in the country in every sense. That is what we should achieve to become the 'Wonder of Asia' one day.

Q: Compared to Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and other East Asian countries, don’t you think we should have been ahead of them or their equal partners in economic success? Who or what is responsible for our slow progress?

A: One reason is the 30 years war on terrorism. Today we have got a golden opportunity to make Sri Lanka another Singapore, Malaysia or Korea. We can gear up for our country to become another Singapore, Malaysia or Korea.

Q: Within a span of 30 years, Sri Lanka experienced three Constitutions, but still different sections find fault with its inadequacy, failure to satisfy their aspirations or its undemocratic elements. Your comments?

A: Now we have removed the threat of terrorism. But still a misunderstanding is there. We may call LTTE cadres terrorists, but for their parents, they are their own sons and daughters. So we must understand this mentality. Some terrorists would have lost their lives. But for their parents - they have lost their kith and kin.

That is how we have to resolve their mental problems by looking after them more than the Southerners to win over their confidence. Then we can ensure the North-South dialogue and North-South unity. Actually this should be the target of our Leaders.

Q: The video footage of manhandling two Sri Lankan Bhikkhus by South Indian pro-LTTE elements is most disparaging. The JHU which condemns it wants a travel advisory to be issued preventing Sri Lankans visiting South India. What have you got to say about this?

A: Some extremist groups are responsible for all these incidents in South India. Who are giving weapons for South Indian extremists? Whether it is Tamil extremism or Sinhala extremism, it is two sides of the same coin. That is why the LTTE never killed anybody of the JVP or JHU. The LTTE has never touched them.

The LTTE killed only UNPers, SLFPers and other moderates. Whoever claims equal rights for the Tamil people, they don’t like that. They don’t like Sinhalese to rise for the rights of the Tamil people, because then they have no cause to take weapons. So they always like the Sinhala chauvinists such as the JVP and the JHU. Today we see the Sinhala chauvinism in this country, the same way we see the Tamil chauvinism in Tamil Nadu.

Q: The Halal certification has created a controversy and certain sections hold the view that this would be an impediment to the co-existence of communities. What is your personal point of view on this issue?

A: This is very disturbing. We had a war against terrorism for 30 years because of the communalism spread by both Sinhala and Tamil communalists. Somehow we have defeated LTTE terrorism and are breathing freely ourselves today.

Now some groups appear as anti-Muslim communalist and Sinhala chauvinist by taking up the Halal issue. We should not bother about Halal. According to their religion, all their foods have to be Halal and it means “purity”.

If Halal is removed from everything, then it’s a different matter. These are matters to be discussed not on the political platform or by shouting in the streets. Buddhism is a very tolerant philosophy. If Bhikkus are properly educated on Buddhism, they will never lead this type of movements.

According to the Buddha, a Bhikkhu is a very tolerant individual. In Buddha’s philosophy, there is nothing called nationality.

He was asked what he meant by nationality. He said nationality means the human being. We all are human beings, but graded as Sinhalese or Buddhists. We became Sinhalese because our parents are Sinhalese.

These are all immature and useless campaigns. According to Buddhism, there is nothing permanent. If there is a problem on Halal issue, the Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) and the Government are there to see to it.

The Bhikkus should have represented matters to the Government. They could have discussed this with the Jamiyyathul Ulama organisation or other Muslim organisations. It is correct that there are fundamentalists among the Muslims as well. There is no extremism in Buddhism and it’s middle path. The Halal issue has created lots of divisions among our people.

Q: You had been in different political camps in the last two or three decades. How would you look back and recount your political odyssey?

A: I have represented different political camps in keeping with the time. But wherever I was, my policies on economy or ethnic issues never changed. Whether I was in the UNP, or in the SLFP, my ideology remained same.

On the economic side, I believe what I practise today under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government as the most suitable economic pattern for the country. It is not a liberal economy. It is a moderate, open economy where both the state and the private sector have a role to play.

The State must be there to compete in the market and keep the prices at a reasonable level for the benefit of the people. Even when I was in the UNP, I was against the privatisation. It was I who asked the UNP trade unions to agitate against the UNP Government's privatization at that time.

I don’t say that privatisation should never have been done. But under J.R. Jayewardene’s Government, they sold out even profitable ventures to the private sector. That is what I was against as it was a liberal capitalist economy. I believe in open economy. That is what is being practised in China, Vietnam or Cambodia today. We should also practise that kind of economy.

That is why there is economic development in this country. At present subsidies are being given to the poor people. How much of subsidies are provided for in our economy? I agree to give subsidies up to a certain period of time till the lot of the poorer segment of the society is improved.