Rapid development drive soon in Wayamba:

Wayamba PC to be exemplary - Chief Minister Dayasiri

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

The “Sonduru Minisa” image paved the way for Dayasiri Jayasekara to be elected as the new Chief Minister of the Wayamba Provincial Council, securing the highest number of preferential votes ever obtained by a candidate at a Provincial Council Election. The people of the Kurunegala District gave him an unprecedented mandate of 336,327 preferential votes at the recently concluded Wayamba PC election. After taking his oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday, the newly-elected Chief Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that his intention was to implement a rapid development drive within the Wayamba province and to attract a massive public mandate in favour of the Government targeting a resounding victory for President Mahindas Rajapaksa at the next Presidential Election.

The new Chief Minister said he has planned to launch an accelerated development program in the Wayamba Province this year. The next Presidential Election is scheduled to be held by the end of 2014 or early 2015. “Our first campaign from Wayamba is to bring a historic victory for the President. As the Chief Minister, I would dedicate myself to develop the province within the next five years. My intention is to turn the Wayamba Provincial Council into an exemplary Provincial Council".

He said whatever election result was gained in the North, the people in the South have given a resounding mandate to further strengthen the hands of the President. Therefore, we would not leave any room for the TNA to promote their separatist ideology.

However, the Government is committed to assist the TNA to have a program which would restore democracy in the North. The outcome of the Provincial Council Election is a clear endorsement that the majority of the people in the Wayamba and Central provinces are with the President and the Government.

It also gives a clear reflection that the people have no intention whatsoever to change the Government in power. The election results have shown that thousands of people were rallying round the UPFA Government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q: How do you look at the unprecedented mandate given to you at the Wayamba Provincial Council Election?

A:This is yet another historic mandate given by the people of Wayamba due to the massive development drive

implemented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa within the province.

People have given this resounding victory to the Government in the hope that there would be more development for the province. My victory proves the confidence reposed in me by a vast majority of people in the Kurunegala district. The Government's victory in Wayamba was further strengthened due to the severe setback faced by the Opposition.

Q: According to you what is being reflected from the resounding mandate given by the people of Wayamba and the Central provinces to the Government?

A: This is a firm endorsement that a vast majority of the people in these provinces are with the President and the Government. It is also a clear reflection that the people have no intention whatsoever to change the Government in power. The election results have shown that thousands of people are rallying round the UPFA Government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q: The Supreme Court has unanimously determined that the subject of land comes under the purview of the Central Government and not the Provincial Councils, according to the Constitution. Would you like to elaborate your views on this?

A: Under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, various problems have occurred with regard to granting Police and land powers to Provincial Councils. I am of the view that Police powers should not be given to Chief Minister because if they were to make appointments and transfers it would lead to a series of problems.

Provincial Councils can discuss with the Central Government and sort out land issues in the respective provinces. Because as claimed by certain separatist elements, we are not going to create a separate state or units in Sri Lanka. Therefore, I don't see any issue with regard to the subject of land coming under the Central Government.

Q: As the new Chief Minister what are the key issues in the province which needs priority from the Provincial Council?

A: There is a major problem with regard to developing the road network in the province. In addition to major categories of A,B and C roads, there is a large number of C, D and E roads which have to be renovated. I hope to develop all the small scale road networks in the Wayamba province under the road development plan implemented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. There are a large number of unemployed youth in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts who are between the ages of 19 and 25. I hope to introduce a skills development program to develop their skills and convert them into employable youth. This would help them to find foreign employment opportunities based on their skills. At present the human-elephant conflict has become a serious issue in certain areas of the province. We have to find a concrete solution to this problem as well. Steps have to be taken to overcome shortcomings in Dhamma Schools in rural temples. I will also focus special attention on problems in the health sector. I have decided to formulate a five- year plan for each Ministry which comes under the Provincial Council. My intention is to bring this plan up to grassroot level in line with the “Mahinda Chinthana” manifesto.

Q: Certain sections of the media have reported about post-election violence in Wayamba. Is there any truth in these allegations that have been levelled?

A: It is unfair to level these allegations onto my side. After the election results were released, I didn't even allow my supporters even to light crackers in the Kurunegala town or even to consume liquor. After the election, I had to face serious threats to my life. I spoke to the IGP and obtained special security. I didn't conduct any processions and my supporters didn't clash with anyone. But the supporters who worked for me also helped other UPFA candidates as well. When there were clashes in those places they shifted the blame to me. I can assure that those who directly supported and organised meetings to ensure my victory never resorted to any violence. After the election, I didn't allow my supporters to organise any ceremony to welcome me as well. During my election campaign, I adhered to election laws and I was in my village. During the past few days after the election, various incidents of brutal assault on my supporters were reported from the Nikaweratiya area.

One of my supporters from the Malkaduwawa area had been mercilessly assaulted. Later that person was sent to jail over a false complaint that he possessed a sword. In addition, the vehicle and house belonging to another UPFA candidate was damaged.

The people are aware of who unleashed thuggery and violence in the Kurunegala district. I thought after the election, all these matters will be sorted out. That is why I made an open invitation to everybody to join hands with me and work together as the preferential competition was over. However, still SLFPers face various threats due to post- election violence unleashed in Kurunegala. Finally the Government and the SLFP will have to take the blame for such incidents committed by some UPFA candidates who cannot accept defeat.

This has become a serious problem in the district. I have already informed the Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and President's Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga. Because this adverse political culture prevailing in the Kurunegala district should be stopped with immediate effect, if democracy is to prevail.

Q: Do you think the TNA on the pretext of the mandate gained in the North would attempt to turn their Eelam struggle into a 'diplomatic mission' ?

A: First we have to look at the outcome of this election result.. When the TNA's Chief Ministerial candidate, C.V.Vigneswaran obtained nearly 132,000 preferential votes, nearly 87,000 people in Jaffna had abstained from voting. This is a clear reflection that all the people are not ready to support a separatist Eelam ideology. Therefore, this does not reflect the majority view of the people in the North. If any political ideology is to be developed with the intention of dividing the country, we will not allow them to do so. Whatever election result is gained in the North, the people in the South have given a resounding mandate to strengthen the hands of the President. We would not leave room for the TNA to promote their separatist sentiments. The Government is committed to assist the TNA to go with a program which would lead to restoring democracy in the North.

Q: Amidst a massive development drive implemented by the Government in the North, why did the majority in the North vote for the TNA?

A: After the defeat of LTTE terrorism, this is the first opportunity the people in the North got to exercise their franchise freely. I hope they used their first opportunity to take certain steps on behalf of the Tamil people. At present the Government has launched a massive development drive in the North. In a situation where the necessary environment has been created for the people in the North to live freely and democratically, we didn't expect this kind of election result. In future, the Government would have more development programs in the North. I hope at the next election, the Government would obtain more votes from the North.

Q: How do you look at the severe setback faced by the UNP at the Provincial Councils Elections? In this present backdrop, what would be the future destiny of the party?

A: It is obvious that at present the UNP has turned into a nominal entity in the political arena. The UNP is not a victorious party anymore and are at a deplorable level under the incumbent leadership. The UNP has no strategy whatsoever to gain power in the future. The UNP would face another humiliating defeat at the next three Provincial Council Elections to be held in the near future. After President Mahinda Rajapaksa wins the next Presidential Election with an overwhelming majority, the UNP would be reduced to an abyssmal level. The outcome of this election has clearly shown the UNP where they stand.

Q: The UNP claims that they would somehow get an election by next year with the intention of toppling the Government. Do you think the UNP would be able to turn this into a reality?

A: What is the strategy that the UNP has adopted to win an election next year? At present the Government has an overwhelming majority with 161 members in Parliament. If the UNP wants to topple this Government at least 50 Government MPs should cross over to the Opposition. If the remaining UNP MPs like us also joined the Government, who will join a party like the UNP which has dropped to such deplorable levels? That would never be a reality. This is just another false propaganda spread by the UNP to recruit new members to the party. This is only Ranil Wickremesinghe's dream which would never come true. All his dreams will be shattered after the Government wins the next General and Presidential Elections with an overwhelming majority.

Q: What would be the impact of the recently concluded Provincial Council Election result on the CHOGM?

A: I think the outcome of the elections in the Wayamba, Central and Northern Provinces would make a positive impact on the CHOGM. After a lapse of nearly 25 years, the Government conducted a free and fair election in the North.

This is a testimony given to the Commonwealth countries of the Government's sincere commitment to restore democracy in the North. Under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government gained a resounding victory in the Wayamba and Central Provinces so that state leaders can feel whte the public sentiments in the country.

World Leaders should extend their support to a country like Sri Lanka which is being developed rapidly after the end of terrorism. At present we have sorted out many burning issues in the country. Earlier the Opposition levelled various allegations against the Government for not holding elections in the North. The main Opposition, the UNP and the TNA gave the impression to the international community that there will be no elections in the North.

Because their intention was to sabotage the CHOGM to be held in Sri Lanka. I hope the massive mandate given by the people to the Government at the recently concluded elections helps to defeat the conspiracy hatched by the Opposition.

Q: As the new Chief Minister of the Wayamba Provincial Council what are the future programs earmarked to develop the province?

A: I hope to launch an accelerated development drive in the Wayamba Province during this year. Because the next Presidential Election is scheduled to be held by the end of 2014 or early 2015. Therefore, my intention is to implement a rapid development program within the province and attract a massive public mandate in favour of the Government targeting a resounding victory for President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next Presidential election.

Earlier the President was known as ‘Mahinda of the South'. I like to announce at the next Presidential Election that we would make him ‘Mahinda of Wayamba'. First we will launch our campaign from Wayamba and bring a resounding victory for the President from the Wayamba Province. As the Chief Minister, I would be dedicated to develop the province within the next five years. My intention is to turn the Wayamba Provincial Council into an exemplary Provincial Council in Sri Lanka.