'Fonseka has no political experience'

The founder member and former Deputy Leader of Democratic National Party and Vice President, Dr. Mahesh Attapattu in an interview with the Sunday Observer recently.

Q: How do you view the current situation in the country after the end of terrorism four years ago?

A: Today, the Sri Lankan's live happily since peace reigns countrywide after the annihilation of LTTE terrorism, under the stewardship of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Peace restored by the President is more important than any other adversities people may have to go through.

Q: Ranil Wickremesinghe had failed to defeat Prabhakaran's terrorist outfit while he was in power.

A: What he wanted was to save Prabhakaran at any cost with external support.

Q: What was the role played by Sarath Fonseka in the war against terrorism?

A: The decision to wage war against terrorism was President's decision. Fonseka was not even in the country at the most decisive phase of the battle. He was too busy with his own agenda. None could forget the efforts made by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa during the war against terrorism. Fonseka did not move an extra inch. Other than to discharge his official duties as Army Commander.

Q: Like President Mahinda Rajapaksa, four other Presidents too bore the brunt of the war against LTTE terrorism?

A: Of the four JR, R. Premadasa, D.B. Wijetunga and Chandrika Kumaratunga, Wijetunga's tenure was short. All the other three did wage a war, but went only half-way.

This led Prabhakaran to overestimate his position and destroy the country's economy. Thousands of soldiers had to sacrifice their lives due to half-hearted attitudes? Claiming that he is the one who had put an end to the war, Fonseka is trying to fool the war heroes. None could condone this. In fact, his position could be ranked far below that of a member of a local body!

Q: What is Ranil Wickremesinghe dominated Opposition's role today?

A: Although, the Opposition Leader brags about his achievements, war would have been going on if not for the bravery of the Security Forces, or else the North and the East would have been ceded to the Tigers.

The aim of Ranil Wickremesinghe - JVP bandwagon was to impede President Rajapaksa's progressive achievements, by hanging on to Fonseka. The people, however acted wisely.

The fortitude of the Armed Forces - Army, Navy and the Air Force and the far-sightedness of the Head of State mattered here most.

Q: Is it correct to say that Sarath Fonseka should deserve the credit of war victory?

A: The war victory is not one man's achievement. It should be apportioned among those who fought for it. What Fonseka did was a mere pretence.

Q: What is the future of Sarath Fonseka's Democratic Party?

A: There is no future. Fonseka has no political experience or resilience which resulted in getting a few thousand votes at the Presidential election. He always refused to accept sound advice and such type of people cannot succeed politically. He bellows like a 'Commander' and that sort of behaviour is quite alien to politics. And to make it worse, he has no sense of gratitude.

Q: What you are trying to say is that 'friendliness', an integral element of a politician is nowhere to be found in Fonseka.

A: He does not have that friendliness or bond with the common man which Ranil Wickremesinghe seems to have, at least to an appreciable quality.