Wayamba will steal the limelight:

Unprecedented victory on the cards - Johan Fernando

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

UPFA Wayamba Provincial Council candidate Johan Fernando said that he is working towards victory for the UPFA in the Wayamba Province. Johan who is the youngest candidate on the UPFA list said the victory that will achieved in Wayamba will be a historic one. In an interview with the Sunday Observer, he said that he wished all the UPFA candidates will make the same effort to make this endeavour a success.

He said some Western forces were looking at what is happening in our country, we need to give them a strong message that we support President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government. We must show them that we are working towards a set goal with the Government and that it can be achieved in this election.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa wants dynamic youth like us to lead from the front and take the 'Mahinda Chinthana vision for the future' forward in the Wayamba Province. Certain sections claim Provincial Councils were a white elephant and attempt to portray that enough development has not been made in Wayamba. Therefore, the President needs energetic youth like us to come forward and take leadership and create a successful Provincial Council that would benefit the people.

Q: How is the UPFA campaign progressing in the Wayamba Province right now?

A: I think the UPFA campaign is going on very well and the Government has no competition whatsoever from the Opposition. If we go to the grass root level, we don't see any voters backing the UNP or the JVP. Most people whom we meet in the province these days are firmly with the President and the Government. I think most of them are happy about the development in the province. This is one of the most peaceful elections that we have faced so far. So I think it is quite a good campaign.

Q: Do you think that the UNP has not to posed any challenge to the Government in the Wayamba Province?

A: Actually there is no competition whatsoever from the Opposition in Wayamba. The Opposition doesn't have any plan to pose a challenge to the Government. What they are doing is just slinging mud at the President and his family and the UPFA candidates contesting the election. When Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe came to power in 2001, he told farmers that he was going to give chewing gum instead of betel leaf. He also promised to give bracelets to girls. He is acting in the same manner once again. I heard a couple of days ago where the Opposition Leader at a meeting held in Yapahuwa said that he is going to fill the pockets of the youths in that area. He had also pledged to give reloads to youth. I don't know what he is thinking. We need a strong Opposition as well. At present it has been failed miserably. We don't find any supporters in the Nikaweratiya electorate supporting the UNP or the JVP. The Government itself has to undertake the task of being the Government and the Opposition.

Q: According to you what is the main reason which has led the Opposition to face this severe setback?

A: It is mainly because of the leadership. When the UNP Government was about to collapse in 2003, my father who was in the UNP's Executive Committee at that time pointed out this ten years ago. He said as long as Ranil Wickremesinghe is the Leader, the UNP will collapse further. Today it has happened. All politicians at grass root level are with the President. The key reason is President Mahinda Rajapaksa works for the people. As politicians it is easy for us to work at grass root areas and implement "the Mahinda Chinthana" work plan in our villages. Politics is about listening to the people and giving them what they ask from us. Q: What is the wish of the people of Wayamba. Do they expect a change in the Chief Ministerial post?

A: The Government has given an option to voters of Wayamba to exercise their franchise on September 21. Therefore the people will select the ideal person whom they want to govern the Provincial Council. Anyway it is the will of the majority.

Q:Over the past few years has sufficient development been made by Provincial Councils in the Wayamba Province l?

A: I think development has taken place. In certain areas the people are not aware about the Provincial Council, development has been made by the Provincial Council in some constituencies. We should focus attention on the entire Wayamba Province and not just on one or two constituencies. Because the Central Government has to mainly look at national issues. Provincial Councils have a close rapport with the people in that province. It is easy for us to listen to people's problems and provide immediate solutions. As far as the people are concerned, I think the Provincial Council is the ideal place to meet the requirements of the people. We can fulfill that once we win this election.

Q: According to you what are the burning issues that Provincial Council should give priority?

A: I am a person who walks into almost every constituency. I have been doing this over the past three years. I have been going more and more to these constituencies over the past 60 days because of the election campaign. Actually the main problem of the people in the province are utilities and develop their infrastructure network. These are the major problems faced in the Wayamba Province. Provincial Councils should focus on problems such as electricity, drinking water and developing the road network.

Q: The media had reported that another 21 Opposition Pradeshiya Sabha members of 12 Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Kurunegala district have joined the UPFA. According to you what is the reason for Opposition politicians to leave the UNP and join the Government?

A: As I said earlier, the Opposition lacks proper leadership. There is a lot of infighting among UNP leaders. There are eight or nine leaders in the UNP. I don't know how many there are I have lost count. One UNP Provincial Council candidate who participated in a television interview with me also claimed that he is a second level leader. I think the grass root level politicians of the UNP don't know whom to follow., they are lost.

They are politicians who want to help their people and give them what they are asking for. That is what the Government is doing right now. It is easy for opposition politicians to join the Government and help their people. I think this is the main for Opposition politicians to join the Government. Even the situation in Nikaweratiya is the same. The entire Pradeshiya Sabha and Local Government members have joined the Government. In the villages, we can't find a single UNPer or JVPer.

Q: Has the Government provided adequate opportunity for youth to contest the Provincial Council elections and come forward as emerging politicians?

A: I think so. I am a good example I am 25- years- old and the President has given me the opportunity to contest the Wayamba Provincial Council election. President wants dynamic youth like us to come forward and lead his "Mahinda Chinthana vision for the future" in the Wayamba Province. Certain section claim Provincial Councils as a white elephant and they attempt to portray that enough development has not been made in Wayamba. So the President needs energetic youth like us to come forward and take leadership and make a better Provincial Council which would benefit the people. I think the UPFA has provided enough opportunities for youth as well as the older generation. So I think it's an all round team effort. Western forces are looking at our country. So we need to give them a strong message that we are firmly behind our President and the Government. We should show them that we are working towards a set goal through our Government. That can be done through this election. Therefore I am working for an unprecedented victory. It should be a historic one. I wish all UPFA candidates will also make that same effort.

Q: Are you confident of the Government's victory at Wayamba Province at the forthcoming Provincial Council polls?

A: The Government will achieve a resounding victory in the Wayamba province. If we go to any village or speak to any person, they say that the UPFA Government will win this election. I just want to make sure that the UPFA will win the election with the biggest possible majority in the history of elections. That is what I am working for.

Q: The media reported about clashes between your supporters and supporters of some other UPFA candidates. Is there any truth in these allegations?

A: I categorically deny these allegations which are fabricated to tarnish my political career. Thousands of people come to our house and extend their support to me. Over 16,000 people came to my house on the day when I handed over my nominations. People can see that we keep in touch with the common people of the province because of this some people are attempting to attack and sling mud at us.

I have never stooped so low to sling mud mud at any of our candidates. As I said earlier, I am working towards a set goal. If we want to achieve a resounding victory in Wayamba, our whole team needs to work together. Even on some television debates, I did not attack or sling mud on candidates who are attacking me. That is what we need to do. As a team, we should not attack each other or involve infighting. I think knowledgeable persons in the country know what is exactly going on. They will support us at this election and you will be able to see the results.

Q: What impressed you to enter politics was it your father's political career ?

A: I was never impressed with politics. I was born into a political family. My grandfather began politics in 1952 and he was undefeated for 40 years. He was the Mayor of Kurunegala. Then my father joined politics in 1991 and he is undefeated for 22 years.

I didn't have any idea to enter politics. I studied at S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia up to my London Advanced Levels. I played rugby there and I captained the first fifteen side in 2007. I did a Degree in Economics in Australia which I am yet to complete because I am now involved in political activity. When I was in Australia, my father informed me that he was going to join the Government. A few days later, I came to Sri Lanka to help my father's political campaign. My father helped the President when he needed his support. Finally we were able to achieve a resounding victory at the General Election and the Presidential Election. When I was working as my father's private secretary for the past three years, people who came to the Ministry asked me whether I would enter politics. Finally I decided to enter politics and serve the people of my district.