President’s unshakeable policies helped the masses - Minister Premajayantha

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha has carved a niche in politics within a spell of nearly two decades. He has traversed the slippery road of politics by sheer grit and determination. He has held many Ministerial portfolios in addition to being the UPFA General Secretary at present. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said under the dynamic leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government is reaching all its set targets by doing its utmost for the people. Therefore, certain local forces which have joined hands with their foreign counterparts are attempting to destabilise the Government as they are aware that in the event they succeed in their sinister efforts the country will suffer eventually.

The Minister said the situation in Sri Lanka is completely different compared to other countries. The people of Sri Lanka have the bitter experience of a 30-year terrorist war.

Traditionally Sri Lankans were against imperialism. The more the pressure the Western forces exert on the Sri Lankan Government and its leadership, larger the number of Sri Lankans rallying round the President and the Government. This is exactly what is happening now.

He said none of the countries which are talking about human rights and interfering in our internal affairs gave any support for the humanitarian operation.

We saw how the LTTE suicide bomb attacks killed Presidents, and other political leaders, ministers and ordinary people. But they always kept quiet on such LTTE atrocities although now they are making a big hue and cry. This is the difference. Most of the people have identified the true face of these forces.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Do we have a national environment policy?

A: There is a policy, but the implementation part of the Action Plan has been delayed. So we are going to launch a national program for the implementation of this action plan on June 05, the World Environment Day declared by the United Nations. Many programs that will be launched on this particular day will continue at least for another three years.

Q: Instances of political bigwigs or their agents encroaching on state lands, felling timber in reserves, putting up buildings by tank bunds and cutting roads across sanctuaries are reported very often. But the culprits have not been brought to book. Could you explain this?

A: Whenever I receive complaints, I immediately attend to them. Forest reserves come under the Forest Department and the Wildlife Ministry. Whenever I receive public complaints, I redirect them to the Forest Department or the Wildlife Ministry.

I have decided to visit each province with effect from next month and hold discussions with District Secretaries, Forest Department officials, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau and other relevant authorities to ensure close supervision over the unauthorised encroachments and felling of trees and logging forests.

Q: Garbage disposal in towns and solid waste disposal by factories have its impact on the environment. People look at the Environment Ministry for solutions. What is the position?

A: Actually the solution is with the people, because one particular institution such as a Local Government body or Provincial Council or the Environment Ministry alone can’t handle this program.

Whose garbage is this? Who discharge them? The entire population and the industries are responsible for it. We have a system for the disposal of industrial waste.

A subsidiary of Holcim company collects all industrial waste in the Western Province and dispose them of. With regard to solid waste management, it is the prime responsibility of local authorities and the Provincial Councils.

The Environment Ministry as a Line Ministry always guides them and formulate policies as well. We had a program called Pilisaru during the last five years, under which, we had strengthened the capacity of local authorities. In Municipal and Urban Council areas the density of garbage is the issue.

For example, the daily collection of garbage in Colombo Municipal Council area and its suburbs is around 1,300 Metric tons. Our garbage is mixed and it is not separated at household levels.

Our prime target is to launch an awareness campaign continuously until they get used to separate garbage at households so that the perishable and biodegradable garbage could be collected on daily basis. People can keep glassware, polythene, cardboards, cans in one container. By doing so, we can reduce nearly 20 percent of garbage dumped on the streets.

After separation, the remainder can be sent for composting. Some investors have already held discussions with the respective Local authorities to install an incinerator and thereby generate power. The Electricity Board, Environment Authority, Local Authorities and Solid Waste Management Authority are involved in this set-up.

We will start the separation of garbage at household level on June 05, the World Environmental Day. Parallel to this we will start tree planting campaigns to improve the forest coverage, cleaning programs, poster campaigns among school children and 15 minute lectures to school children on the importance of the environment. We will get the school children to deliver the message to each and every household. We have also organised seminars for heads of Local authorities.

We have an awareness program to launch with at least one project in a particular Local authority area. I have asked the Sustainable Energy Authority to start a pilot project to introduce solar power for street lamps. In time to come, the costs will drop progressively compared to what it is today. We will also strengthen the school brigades to protect the environment. Likewise there are so many programs lined up to be launched on June 05-the World Environment Day and continue until we get used to them.

Q: The Kolonnawa garbage problem and garbage mountain at Wolfendhal are an eyesore. Has modern technology failed to provide solutions?

A: In modern technology, there are solutions. But at the same time, we need new investments to incinerate garbage. To put up a bunker, a receiving point, incinerator and generation machinery, it takes about two and half years. Therefore, there is no immediate solution. What is needed is to reduce the volume of garbage coming to the streets and send them to composting yards.

Q: Except for the concept of renewable energy which includes sunlight, wind, rain, tides and waves, there is no integrated plan to make use of such energy on a commercial scale. Could you explain why it is so?

A: It is under way. The Sustainable Energy Authority had only a fund till 2007. The Authority Bill was introduced in 2007. Now we have an Authority. Some projects are functioning.

At present seven percent of the total electricity demand is met by renewable energy-mostly through mini hydro projects. With the change of climate, if streams are dried up then we can’t produce power through mini hydro projects.

Therefore, the most sustainable sources are the winds and the solar power. There are two monsoons but the winds are not steady. In some developed countries like Germany, they have decided to go for wind and solar power within the next 25 years. With the development of technology, there is a strong possibility of decreasing investment. Then the unit cost will come down.

At the moment it is likely to drop. Within next five years I believe, the renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power will definitely be cheaper than thermal and other sources. But the hydro power is the cheapest energy source.

Q: Is it the leniency of punishment or the non-enforcement of laws that have led to increasing damage to the environment by the unscrupulous elements. Is not the time to rectify this situation?

A: Yes, of course. We had a workshop recently to introduce some regulations specially for chemical waste. At the moment there is no proper Act to control or regulate the chemical waste, import of chemicals to the country and its transportation.

This is one particular area that we are very much concerned. I got the Interim Report and now we are working on it. We would see if it is possible for the Environment Authority to strengthen the laws relating to environment.

Q: As one time Minister of Power and Energy and Minister of Petroleum Industries could you explain what led the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to their present dire financial straits?

A: Of course, that is a simple calculation. Upper Kothmale, Norochcholai or any other power generation projects had not been started between 1995 - 2007. It is only after President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power in 2005 that a firm decision was taken to go ahead with the generation plan of the CEB. So there is a gap and no power generation plan had been implemented for 10 long years.

Actually it was the responsibility of the respective Governments to attend to such matters. On the President’s initiative the Norochcholai project was started to generate 300MW. We will also generate another 300MW within the next 18 months. The Government also commissioned Kerawalapitiya plant with 300MW and Upper Kothmale plant with 150MW. So 750MW have been added to the national grid within the next six or seven years.

We have faced this crisis due to the fault of the then policy-makers. There is an increasing eight percent demand for electricity every year. After the end of the war against terrorism this increasing demand soared. We see how many high rise commercial buildings are coming up in the Colombo city itself and its suburbs.

The demand for electricity in Colombo city alone will increase sharply in the next two years.

Actually we didn’t expect such an increase. These are the results of a lasting peace. Now we have to meet this demand. Actually since 1995, they went for thermal power generation. Within a short period of time, they installed machinery for power generation. They also entered into long term agreements with the capacity charges for 25 or 30 years. So they maintain the same rates. But in mini hydro projects there is a decrease.

At present the average cost per unit is Rs. 23. But the CEB sells the first 30 units to consumers at the rate of Rs. 3.60, the next 30 units, Rs. 6.40 and 90 units Rs. 7.90. The maximum is somewhere around Rs. 15. Consequently, we can calculate how many rupees we are loosing.

In a way, its a subsidy. On the other hand, it affects the entire economy, because the CEB is not in a position to pay their dues to the Petroleum Corporation.

The CPC asks for loans and opens Letters of Credit (LCs), and they have to pay the interest too. But still the CPC is not getting enough funds and they can’t maintain their cash flow. This is the very reason for the financial crisis in both organisations.

Q: As the UPFA General Secretary how do you explain certain UPFA constituent parties taking a different stand against important Government policies?

A: Of course, there is no such thing. All acts were passed in Parliament with two thirds majority. The UPFA is a coalition of several constituent parties. In May Day these constituent parties speak of their own policies benefiting the working class. Some of the parties had their separate May Day rallies, yet all of them are part and partial of the Government.

The UPFA May Day held a few days ago, had the largest ever rally in the recent past. The NFF, LSSP and CP Left front and some parties held their May Day rallies in upcountry. Some of those May Day rallies were represented by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and UPFA Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa. They are also our constituent parties. So we always act together.

As a practice, they had separate May Day rallies. There were certain proposals by those parties at their May Day rallies, but they didn’t criticise the Government and all of them are with the Government. If you compare the May Day rallies of the Government constituent parties and the Opposition, you see a vast difference between them. Holding May Day rallies by some UPFA constituent parties themselves does not mean that they are acting separately. They are always acting together. But in certain issues, they may have their own policies.

Q: Are you confident of winning the Northern Provincial Council elections when there is democracy, peace, development, job opportunities and market for local agricultural products of the Jaffna people?

A: The fact is these people are heavily influenced by the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora, certain Tamil political parties in the North and some NGOs and INGOs as well. There are some forces acting locally and internationally to destabilize the country. At present the rapid development taking place in the North and peaceful coexistence among communities will be the political strength for the Government. We have an Executive President, two thirds majority in Parliament and we are in power in eight Provincial Councils. In addition, we are engaging 90 percent of power in local authorities. If we don’t have a stable Government, investors won’t come, development programs won’t get off the ground and we won’t get financial aid. With the strong and dynamic leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we are achieving all these targets. So some local forces have joined hands with the foreign forces and attempt to destabilize the Government. If they destabilise the Government, ultimately it is the country that will suffer. We can see what is happening in some of the Middle East countries today. But what did they achieve? They fought for the sake of democracy. They have achieved nothing and they ruined their countries. Here the situation is completely different, because the people of Sri Lanka have experienced a 30 year terrorist war. Traditionally Sri Lankans are against the imperialism. The more the Western forces attack the Government and its leadership, the more the people rallying by round the President and the Government.

Q: There is discernible foreign interference in our domestic matters such as undue stress on the implementation of the LLRC recommendations, resettlement, election timing and human rights violations when there are graver situations witnessed in other countries. Your comments?

A: That is the nature of imperialism. During the past, some powerful countries invaded the developing countries and kept them under their umbrella. Now the situation is totally different and they can’t survive themselves. They are not in a position to give us assistance. So they try to destabilize the developing countries. We can see how they interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. We are an independent country. You can talk about LLRC and its recommendations and all that after defeating terrorism. But none of the countries who are talking about human rights and trying to interfere in our internal affairs gave us any support for our humanitarian operation. We could see how LTTE suicide bomb attacks killed Presidents, political leaders, Ministers and ordinary people. But they kept quit. Now they are making a big hue and cry. This is the difference that we see today. Most of the people have identified the true face of these forces.

Q: The mammoth UPFA May Day rally is evidence of the faith reposed in the Government by the masses. Why is the Government so popular among the masses?

A: This is because of the unshakeable policies of President Rajapaksa. The majority of the people are well aware that had it not been for the President we would not have achieved lasting peace. People are supremely aware of this. Nobody can challenge the President and the Government.