TNA is solely dependent on Tamil Diaspora - Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake’s impressive journey from the rural backwoods of Hanguranketha to the national legislature was not on the primrose path. It had its ups and downs. Known among his near and dear as “SB”, he was deeply conscious about his unsullied rustic identity. Nevertheless he is adept in tip-toeing the political minefield. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the people of the North have begun to admire the stature of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Specially the ex-LTTE cadres who have been rehabilitated and integrated into the mainstream society have recognized President Rajapaksa as the only leader acceptable to all communities. They don’t accept Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sarath Fonseka or Somawansa Amarasinghe for the country’s leadership. The new generation including the people in the North have distanced themselves from the racist slogans and moved in to live as one Sri Lankan nation. They also want to strengthen the hands of the President who put an end to the 30 year LTTE terror.

The Minister said Sri Lanka is recovering economically very fast today. The Per capita income and GDP have increased while unemployment has dropped. A massive development is taking place in the country and a new middle class is emerging in the country. In such a situation, centralisation is important to the country. When we have a democratic, humane and amiable leader such as President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we can use centralisation of power to achieve prosperity.

Minister Dissanayake said that the present ground situation in the country does not permit to go for a wide range of power devolution. It is difficult to change the mindset of the people in the North within a short time as they continued to live under the control of the LTTE for nearly three decades. In addition, the powerful pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora still attempt to divide this country. Some powerful forces in Europe and certain factions in Tamil Nadu also want to divide Sri Lanka. Therefore, it’s not appropriate even to think of any full-scale power devolution at this juncture.

Excerpts of the Interview:

Q: The Tamil issue is not a problem only to the UPFA Government and as such it is incumbent on all Opposition parties to participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee(PSC) and express their views on power devolution. How do you explain the intransigence on the part of the UNP, TNA and the JVP in not taking part in the PSC?

A: Political parties should discuss this issue at the PSC. There can’t be any hidden agendas. The UNP, TNA or JVP should clearly express their views on the Tamil issue.

The Mahinda Chintana Vision for the Future has clearly underscored the need for this. The Ministers can’t express different views on this particular issue, since the Mahinda Chintana has clearly outlined that it has to be discussed and a common consensus has to be reached. If the TNA still dreams the Eelam state, they cannot make representations before the PSC.

The UNP can explain their vision or program before the PSC. Today the problem is that the TNA is solely dependent on pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora.

Their families are in foreign countries. Therefore, the TNA is not interested in seeking a genuine solution to the problems faced by the Tamils. If there is no solution, it would be ideal for their existence.

I for one am agreeable to a wide range of power devolution within a peaceful and democratic atmosphere. But this is not the time even to talk about a power devolution. Still most of the people in the North have not shed their separatist sentiments. European countries have not given up their idea of dividing our country.

The NGOs have not yet stopped their conspiracies against us. India is also against us on this issue which is not a positive thing.

A party such as UNP has no moral right to say that they will not disclose their stance until the Government submits its own proposals.

Cannot the UNP understand the problem in the North or haven’t they studied it? Is not the UNP a party which cannot submit its own solution to this problem? They should clearly express their stance on this issue and after that these proposals could be discussed in the PSC. Both the UNP and the JVP are attempting to put the Government into difficulty and drag this issue longer. Actually they are engaged in a bankrupt political gamble.

The manner these political parties are behaving is deplorable when you consider the severe hardships faced during the past 30 years due to the Northern problem. All political parties should join hands to resolve this problem.

Q: How do you explain the UNP’s irony of fate when it thought it fit to draft a new Constitution though in fact the UNP was the architect of the 1978 Constitution against which much criticism is levelled in political circles?

A: This is just another useless document drafted by the UNP to cover up their political bankruptcy. There is no value at all in their draft Constitution. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will not allow anybody to come up in the party. Ranil Wickremesinghe attempts to project a full-blown democracy in this new draft Constitution. But the UNP is the only party in the world where there is no democracy whatsoever. It is absurd for Wickremesinghe who has eliminated all democratic features of the UNP to talk about a new Constitution.

He himself appoints people to all top posts of the party and its Executive Committee. Those who act against him are expelled from the Executive Committee and organizer posts. While acting in a dictatorial manner, he talks about a democratic Constitution which is abhorrent. First he should restore democracy within his own party. There is no democracy whatsoever in the UNP. Therefore, the UNP’s draft constitution is a mere sham.

Q: Do you believe power devolution is a true means of resolving the Tamil issue when the TNA and all other Tamil parties have consecrated itself to realize the Eelam dream?

A: At present the ground situation in the country does not permit to go for a wide range of power devolution. The reason is that even before the independence there were separatist sentiments at work.

Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim schools had been established on ethnic grounds. From their school days, children are divided on the basis of communities. People have been divided based on caste. There was a tilt towards separatism. That’s why I say that we should not think of granting police and land powers.

During the past 30 years, the youth including students and even the middle-aged people in the North watched the LTTE television channel and the LTTE radio channel. Today, these very same people are living in the North. It is difficult to change their mindset within a short time.

The pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora, certain European countries and Tamil Nadu politicians still attempts to divide this country. People are well aware as to who trained terrorists and provided arms and money. Under these circumstances we should not even think of going for a wide range of power devolution.

Sri Lanka is economically recovering very fast now. Our Per Capita income and GDP have gone up while unemployment has come down. A massive development is taking place in the country.

A new middle class is emerging. In such a situation, centralisation is important for the country. When we have a democratic, humane and amiable leader such as President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we can use centralization of power to achieve prosperity soon.

Q: The JVP’s stand as a patriotic Marxist party in national issues seems to be capricious. They opposed Provincial Councils but contested and won its seats. Their solution to the Tamil issue, if any has not been articulated as yet. Your comments?

A: The JVP is not a Marxist party. JVP’s founder Rohana Wijeweera was an intelligent person and he changed his vision from now and again. Sometimes his policy centered on Marxism and Fascism. At times it deviated towards terrorism as well.

Therefore, the JVP is not a Marxist party. I have also studied Marxism at the Moscow University. Wijeweera in one of his books had stated that he would accept Tamil people’s right to self-determination and separation. However, he changed this view later.

The JVP has since removed these in the new editions of Wijeweera’s books. Since its inception, the JVP attempted to ‘sell’ patriotism and rouse the racial feelings among the people. Patriotism is easily marketable.

The JVP says that there is a militarization in the North. So they also repeat what the TNA says. At present a massive development is taking place in the North. Tamils are not concerned almost the demand to withdraw Security Forces from the North. It is a demand only by the TNA and its leader Sampanthan. We should not forget that the families of the TNA MPs had gone abroad due to the LTTE threat. None of these TNA politicians could go to the North those days though they can do so today.

The people of the North have begun to admire the stature of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The ex-LTTE cadres who have been rehabilitated and re-integrated into the society have recognized the President as the only leader acceptable to all communities.

They don’t accept Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sarath Fonseka or Somawansa Amarasinghe for the country’s leadership.

The new generation including the people in the North have distanced themselves from the racist slogans and begun to live as one Sri Lankan nation. They also want to strengthen the hands of the President who put an end to the 30 year LTTE terror.

Q: Could you explain the significance of promoting closer relations in trade, investment and diplomacy with Asian and African countries?

A:We are still exporting our tea and apparels to the US and Europe, though Asia is the market. If we can sell even a pin or pencil to India or China, that would be a huge economic advantage for us. We should look at the Indian, Chinese, Indonesian and African markets.

I think the Government is doing this in a prudent manner. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to African countries to promote closer relations in trade and investment is significant. Else the US and other European countries may attempt to hurt us in our exports.

Q:The US Government has issued a travel advisory to its citizens travelling to Sri Lanka. Is there a situation in the country for such a warning though there are isolated incidents taking place as in other countries too?

A: Bomb explosions occur in US, India and Pakistan too. No such incidents happen in Sri Lanka today. Sri Lanka is a one hundred percent peaceful and democratic country.

Actually this is political hypocrisy against us.

This kind of travel advisories, I don’t think, will have a big impact on tourists visiting Sri Lanka. The local tourism industry has recorded a significant growth. Certain Western countries which do not favour such growth in tourism attempt to thwart it due to jealousy and hypocrisy.

Q:You have described university ragging as despicable, shameless and savage and urged the parents of undergraduates to exercise control over them. Could you explain to what extent ragging and extreme political ideologies have destroyed university education?

A: A sub culture has been created in the universities. Very productive socio-economic and political dialogues were conducted in universities until 1988. Those days student leaders were chosen by election. Very extensive discussions were held in universities at that time. After 1988, two Vice Chancellors, four lecturers and hundreds of university students were killed in the North by the LTTE having taken control of universities.

In the South also, two Vice Chancellors and 11 students were killed within the university premises itself.

In addition, the JVP assaulted thousands of students and broke their limbs and took the control of universities into their hands through the Inter University Students Federation. Now the Students’ Union is also set up through a list prepared by the JVP.

If ever any other group attempts to contest the elections, they will be assaulted. One student of the Sri Jayewardenepura University was killed at the Vice Chancellor’s office itself. However, none of the universities could punish the offenders. Ragging was conducted in a very inhuman manner to harass the students.

The students who oppose ragging were banned from entering hostels, libraries, playground and gymnasium. We have stopped these restrictions imposed on students. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already visited nine universities. I will also visit all universities.

The next “Deyata Kirula” exhibition will be held at Wayamba University premises and as such the university will receive billions worth assets. We have changed the culture of universities. New courses have been introduced and most of the training courses are conducted in English language.

Our universities are also in the process of reaching the international standards. The power held by the LTTE in the Jaffna University and JVP in Southern universities has ended.

The JVPers who indulged in various killings and other violent activities have broken away and have formed the Frontline Socialist Party.

Whatever attempts are made to disrupt university education, we will not change the ongoing program in the universities. We have suspended the classes of 200 or 300 university students who had resorted to ragging. Attempts were also made to turn the Sabaragamuwa University into the Front Line Socialist Party’s stronghold by violating all rules and regulations. The student’s union was banned and the students who were involved in those activities were punished. Disciplinary action will be taken against those who have resorted to ragging and their studentship will be cancelled. Even if any student unions stage protests opposite the Higher Education Ministry nothing will be changed in the university sector.

A demonstration was held by the Inter University Students Federation on Wednesday which is good for the health of the university students, as they don’t attend lectures or don’t go even to the playground. We have introduced the Leadership Training Program to train the youth who are concerned about their fitness.

Q: If developing countries such as India could set up branches of leading foreign universities, how is it that certain sections of society oppose such moves in Sri Lanka?

A: I think this trend is on the wane. This protest is mainly led by the JVP, Frontline Socialist Party and the Inter University Students Federation. I don’t think there is such a big protest in the country against setting up branches of foreign universities. University students are well aware that we are improving the facilities in all universities.

A group of foreign students had been admitted to some local universities. Earlier a huge protest was made even by our doctors against the establishment of the Malabe Medical College.

It too has fizzled out. Recently I attended the convocation at the University of Ballarat which is the third oldest State university in Australia. Its branch was opened in Sri Lanka two years ago. At that ceremony a senior professor of the management faculty told me that the Sri Lankan students were the best among those he has taught in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and even in Australia.

Therefore, it is very important that branches of such reputed universities are set up in Sri Lanka.

The Government alone cannot cater to the vast demand in the higher education sector. We have wherewithal to develop Sri Lanka into a key education hub in Asia.

Q: Would you describe your journey from the backwoods of Hanguranketha - your old school Poramadulla Central College to the national legislature of which you are a powerful Minister today?

A: I am very emotional. As a result I have made lots of mistakes and lost many things and it is not because of anything, but that I didn’t hesitate to call a spade a spade.

I have served prison terms as well. But I am happy about it. Though I have never engaged in JVP politics, I served a two weeks prison term in 1971 and six months prison term during 1987 - 1989.

After that I was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment due to contempt of court. I also resigned from my ministerial portfolio and SLFP General Secretaryship and formed a new UNP Government by toppling the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s Government.

After President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office, I re-joined the UPFA Government. During my political career, I have gained plenty of experience. I have done many things which no other politician could do.

Before I contested the 2010 General Election on the UPFA ticket, I also contested as the UNP’s Chief Ministerial candidate for the Central Provincial Council.

Though the UNP was defeated, I received 189,000 preferential votes. I also contested the 2010 General Election from Kandy District under the UPFA and obtained over 108,000 preferential votes. I also came first when I contested Nuwara Eliya district.

The Higher Education Ministry portfolio is also a challenge. I am fulfilling my duties with much pleasure. We punish university students due to our love and affection for them.