PC system could solve problems of the North - Kamalendran

By Ranil Wijayapala

The problems faced by the people living in the Jaffna islands are different from the problems faced by the people in the Jaffna peninsula. Therefore, they have to be addressed with a different approach. Kandasami Kamalendran, Jaffna District EPDP organiser in an interview with the Sunday Observer discussed in detail the problems of the Tamil people living in the Jaffna islands and the EPDP stance on the Provincial Council system.

Excerpts of the interview

Q: How do you view the development activities that have taken place in the Jaffna islands during the past few years ?

A:We have not carried out development activities targeting only the election. All the development in the Jaffna islands have been carried out to solve the basic problems faced by the people living there . In 1990 the EPDP leader Douglas Devananda started working with the people in the Jaffna islands.

But it was only after May 2009 that we were able to engage in development activities properly in the district. Therefore, there is a lot more to be done for the people in the island sector in the Jaffna peninsula. I believe the people living here are happy about the development so far. We hope to continue the developments in the future too.

Q:Are there any specific problems faced by the people in the Jaffna islands due to its geographical location?

A:The problems faced by the people in the Jaffna islands are very much different from that of the people in the mainland, in the Jaffna peninsula. They are faced with drinking water problem, transport, electricity, as well as the other problems faced by the northern people. But we have to implement separate programs to address their problems.

Q:What are the programs in the pipeline to address these problems ?

A:There is only one road leading to the islands and only a kilometre of it has been carpeted. Other than the main road there are 32 streets in the Jaffna island sector.

We expect to develop all the roads from funds allocated for the three Pradeshiya Sabas, Kaytes, Velani and Delft in the islands. We hope to complete the development of the roads by March 2014. The Government has allocated Rs.100 million each for the three Pradeshiya Sabas to continue development activities.

To solve the drinking water problem the Government expects to pump drinking water from the Iranamadu tank in Kilinochchi at a cost of Rs.22 billion. The people in the Jaffna islands too will benefit from the project.

But it would take another five years to complete the entire project. So we are providing drinking water for the people from a well in the Chatty area in Kaytes. using bowsers.

We have been able to provide electricity for almost 95 per cent of the population in the Jaffna islands. Though some parts of the Jaffna peninsula does not have an uninterrupted power supply, the people in Delft and Nainatheevu enjoy a 24 hour electricity supply through the generators. We expect to supply electricity for Eluvatheevu also in the same manner.

Q:A major problem faced by the fishing community in the North is the poaching by Indian fishermen. How has it affected the people living in the island sector ?

A:The people here face a lot of problems due to the poaching of Indian fishermen. People living in other islands too are affected by the poaching of Indian fishermen. We had to enter the election campaign when Minister Devananda and President Mahinda Rajapaksa had discussions to solve this issue.

It has to be solved permanently. During the period of the war on terrorism people living here could not earn their living by fishing. Even after the end of terrorism they are not able to engage in fishing freely in the Sri Lankan territorial waters due to this issue.

This is our sea and belongs to the people living in Sri Lanka. We should have the freedom to engage in fishing freely without any interruption.

If the Indian government is not ready to take steps to solve the issue, with the leadership of Minister Devananda we are ready to take 5,000 fishing boats and reach Indian waters in protest of the Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

Q:The conflict in the North and East was based on the concept of ethnicity and language issues. Do you think development activities alone can address the grievances of the people in the North ?

A: People need development. At the same time they also need to have political rights. Through the Provincial Council (PC) system we can balance the development activities and the political rights of the Tamil people.

We did not have a chance to work within the PC system during the past two decades. When we get that chance to administer our own areas through the PCs the people in the North could think differently. They will feel they are running their own administration in the North. Once they get self -governance with the formation of the Provincial Council after the September 21 election it will help address their political rights. We, as the EPDP which has struggled for the implementation of the PC system think the problem will be solved through the PC system.

The leadership of both communities created the language issue. We started with peaceful protests but it was ended in a military way.

All Sri Lankans should enjoy equal rights. We are one community and can live together peacefully. The Indo Sri Lanka Peace Accord was the base for solving the issue. We have to implement it to solve the problem permanently.

As temples are located here in the Jaffna islands there are Kovils in the South also. Therefore, all the communities should live peace and harmony and as politicians we should not work based on ethnicity. What we should try to do is to give equal rights to the people

Q:What do you think of the campaign carried out by the TNA ?

A:The TNA Chief Ministerial candidate Vigneshwaran's views are different from that of the TNA and the Tamil diaspora. Vigneshwaran says they should start working with the Government to solve the issue of the Tamil people. We as the EPDP also had the same stance for the last two decades.

The Tamil Diaspora expects to create a problematic situation in the North and an unstable situation in the country. It is the reason why people in the North are talking about a Tamil homeland concept.

The people are questioning why we are contesting under the UPFA rather than our usual party symbol. Our aim is to have equal rights for the people whether they are Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim.

Q:What changes do you expect to create in Jaffna if you are elected to the Northern Provincial Council and how do you plan to address the basic political rights of the Tamil people ?

A:We expect to make Jaffna another Singapore or Japan. We believe that in developed countries issues based on ethnicity or religion do not exist. Our aim is to get the administration of the Province and give equal rights to the people living in the North also under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q:Are you confident of the victory of the UPFA ?

A:We are sure of winning the election because the people are aware that they should elect us if they want to get their areas developed.