Govt will achieve a resounding victory - Dayasiri Jayasekara

With the Provincial Council elections round the corner the electoral seats are feeling the heat. The North Western Province experiences nothing less. Amid his busy schedule the former UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara conducts his campaign with the confidence of leading the UPFA to victory. "At present a large number of people are rallying round me and voluntarily extending their support. The significance is that they are not helping me for the sake of money or other personal gains," Jayasekara said. "Hundreds of UNPers have joined the Government. It is obvious that the Government would score a historic victory at the PC elections." he said.

Excerpts

Q: You were one of the frontline politicians of the UNP heavily criticising the Government. What changed your mind to suddenly quit the UNP parliamentary seat and contest the Wayamba PC polls under the UPFA ticket?

A : At present there is a dictatorial rule in the UNP and unilateral decisions are taken by the party leadership. The decision-making body is dominated by three or four close associates of the Leader. Under this set up the UNP lacks the strategy to capture power in the near future.

As a result, hundreds of UNP supporters at grassroots level have become disillusioned. Anyone who goes against the dictatorial system have to face disciplinary action. There is no alternative program to make the party victorious at any election. A large number of UNP parliamentarians, PC members and Local Government members too have joined us. They had become victims to a witch-hunt. Some of them lost their membership and designations. I too was continuously subjected to harassment by the party leadership. So I decided to join the Government and contest the Wayamba PC election without being isolated in the Opposition.

Q : Why did you decide to resign from your seat and contest the PC election rather than cross over to the Government side for a ministerial portfolio?

A : As a person elected to Parliament from the UNP votes, I believe I have no moral right to enjoy a ministerial portfolio or other perks in the UPFA. Therefore, I resigned from my parliamentary seat and decided to contest the PC election seeking a fresh mandate from the people in the Province. I believe I have followed the true democratic procedure unlike other Opposition MPs who crossed over to the Government. Nobody could criticise my decision or accuse me of betraying the Party. I have set an example and opened the door for a national political dialogue.

Q : What is the response from the people of Wayamba? How confident are you of victory?

A : A large number of UNPers in the Kurunegala district have already extended their support to me. The significance is that they are not supporting me for the sake of money or other personal gains. The people know that Dayasiri Jayasekara is not a marketable commodity and it is the politician Dayasiri who attracts them. If I become the Chief Minister, I will certainly galvanise the Provincial Council into action.

I received 132,000 preferential votes at the last General Election contesting the Kurunegala district under the UNP ticket. The preferential votes I received was second only to that of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the last General Election. My target is to get at least 250,000 preferential votes at the Wayamba PC election and become first in the district. I have no doubt that they will elect me as the Chief Minister with the highest number of preferential votes.

Q: Is the Government confident of winning the Wayamba Provincial Council election?

A: Definitely. The Government would achieve a resounding victory at the Wayamba PC election. I will lead the ruling UPFA in Wayamba to a resounding victory. At present hundreds of UNPers have joined the Government. It is obvious that the Government would score a historic victory at the PC elections. The UNP will certainly face a crisis when many of their grassroots level leaders join the Government soon.

Q: What is your future political ambition?

A: I launched my political career at the grassroots level and have a solid political standing. I was sidelined by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and later fell victim to harassment by the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for over 13 years. However, at last I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. It was in the SLFP that I first launched my political career. Therefore, my rejoining the SLFP means my 'going back to my political Maha Gedara'. I hope President Mahinda Rajapaksa will harness my energy for the betterment of the country.

- DY