Infrastructure development reaches dizzy heights - Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the Opposition is not in a position whatsoever to pose any challenge to the Government and it they would achieve a historic defeat at the next Presidential Election. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the people are not interested in the candidate to be fielded by the Opposition at the next Presidential Election and what they are going to do. As far as the Government is concerned, we are quite sure at we will have a greater victory this time whether the Opposition fields a common candidate or party candidate. The Government is confident that it has done a lot on behalf of the country. The Government firmly believes that the next generation would immensely benefit from what it has done particularly with regard to infrastructure development.

Minister Rambukwella said foreign intervention was quite evident because some of the Western powers during the time of the war against terrorists and after the end of it are trying to level baseless allegations against Sri Lanka. We have been handling this situation well and are quite capable of facing this challenge. We are genuine about what we have done and what has to be done. I don’t think we should have any kind of discomfort of meeting that challenge. Because we have been genuine and we would stand as a nation because we have done the right thing up to now. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government is ready to face challenges as how it faced during the time of the war against terrorists.

Excerpts of the interview

Q: As a former UNP strongman , would you think the UNP’s Leadership Council could ensure voters confidence to win a General Election again?

A: I don’t think its idea is to win voters. The UNPs whole idea is to help Ranil Wickremesinghe to further retain his leadership of the UNP. Therefore this idea of setting up of a Leadership Council is not to win the voters or to have some sort of political boost for the UNP.

This is just a camouflage and eyewash to get out of a situation and safeguard the Ranil Wickremesinghe’s position. When his leadership was subjected to challenge, he found another alternative as a way to control it.

Q: How do you assess the possibility for the Opposition to field a common candidate at the next Presidential Election? Will it be a success?

A: The Opposition fielded a common candidate at the last Presidential Election held in 2010 as well. But it was turned into an utter failure and the President Mahinda Rajapaksa could win that election with a comfortable majority. Whoever who comes, as far as the Government is concerned, we are very much confident that we will have a greater victory this time whether it is common candidate or party candidate. Since the President assumed office, the Government has done so much of infrastructure development and series of welfare measures for the people. The Government has not privatized any public enterprises as committed by the former UNP Government. The Opposition is not in a position whatsoever to pose any challenge to the Government and they would achieve a historic defeat at the next Presidential Election. Actually the people are not interested on the candidate to be fielded by the Opposition and what they are going to do. We are quite sure and very much confident that we have done lot on behalf of the country. We think the next generation would immensely benefit from the actions that we have taken particularly with regard to infrastructure development.

Q: There will be an ‘undeclared war’ by the Western block against Sri Lanka at the forthcoming UNHRC sessions in Geneva. Are we adequately armed to face the onslaught?

A: This foreign intervention was quite evident because some of the Western powers during the time of the war against terrorists and after end of it are trying to level various baseless allegations against Sri Lanka. We have been handling this situation well and we are quite capable of facing this challenge. We are very genuine on what we have done and what has to be done. I don’t think that we should have any kind of discomfort of meeting that challenge. Because we have been very genuine and as a nation we would stand on as we have done right thing up to now. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government is always ready to face challenges as how it faced during time of the war against terrorists.

Q: Does not the TNA’s behavior give the impression to the country that its political agenda is not different from that of the LTTE?

A: I have said this number of times that the TNA is a proxy of the LTTE. In fact that was manifested many times in the Parliament. Now they know that they don’t have the military power at the ground level. But they will not stop their acts and look for other options to realize their petty objectives. Now the question is about their credibility. As far as they are concerned, they have been vehemently working on it to discredit the country. Their credibility is at that end. We will deal with that when it comes to that.

Q: The defeat of some of the UPFA Local Body budgets has become controversial in the country. What has led to this situation and what is the UPFA’s solution?

A: As far as the Pradeshiya Sabhas are concerned, in fact if you listen to those who have voted against the budget, they categorically state that they are hundred percent with the President and the Government. But there are certain dictatorial acts that have been committed by the chairmen of some Local Government Bodies. Sometimes the members of that particular Local Government Body attempt to harness their support to another person and try to push the incumbent chairman out. This is a part of a political game. Some outside forces may also be working to create such situations.

The fact of the matter is that mainly they are showing some animosity against the incumbent chairman for his stubbornness or the non allocation of funds on equal basis. It is a hyping up by the media. Because of the total number of 215 or 220 Local Government Bodies, the budgets of only seven or eight Local Government Bodies have been defeated.

Q: Certain sections say the Government attempt to highlight the UNP crisis to cover up its own. Your comments?

A: The own membership of the UNP is fighting among themselves by making various contradictory public statements. People are very well aware on it and I think that is quite adequate to see the crisis faced by the UNP. As a result of this, the UNP is going to downfall day by day. In the game of politics, it is normal that you try to create situations for your benefits. That may be all right. But at present a group of the Government members also have to be seated in the Opposition side as they cannot be accommodated seats in the Government side due to crossovers made by a large number of UNP MPs to the Government side.

Q: Could you counter the charge by the human rights organizations and sections of the international community that there is no media freedom in the country and the media personnel are harassed?

A: We have categorically rejected this claim made by them. Certain section of the human rights organizations and international community are attempting to project a distorted picture on Sri Lanka. So they have set targets to achieve their narrow objectives. Some sections of the human rights organizations are misleading the international community by leveling baseless allegation on alleged human rights violations taken place in Sri Lanka during the final phase of the war against terrorists. This is an organized attempt made by certain sections to tarnish the image of the country. We are ready to face these challenges. But if there is something to be corrected on our part, we would not hesitate to do so.

Q: Is it true that Sri Lanka has to face strict competition in garment exports from Bangladesh and Cambodia which are far ahead of us. Could you explain the actual situation?

A: We had to undergo certain difficulties for a particular period of time due to certain barriers imposed on us. We have overcome that situation. But it is high time that we gear ourselves to meet the market place without basing on preferential agreements. Because they are based on certain terms and conditions.

If we can enter the open market and be competitive within the market, that would be our target. While we are also pursuing other factors, our target should be to meet the market in a competitive manner. Some were talking about that the garment industry is going to collapse. But the Government had a mechanism to face that situation. Some of the countries which are seriously involved in garment manufacturing have to face their own problems. So they are looking at Sri Lanka once again.

Q: Some Government MPs who are critical on the decision taken to live telecast of Parliamentary proceedings allege the Opposition make use of this Opportunity to sling mud at the Government members. Would you like to comment on this?

A: It is a question of holding the dignity and decorum of an institution like Parliament. As Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said the behaviour of Parliamentarians are watched by the public and school children. As I also pointed out in Parliament, the language used by some members during Parliamentary debates are most disgusting. Therefore all these aspects need to be considered seriously when parliamentary proceedings are telecast live.

Q: How do you view the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament to deliver the reply speech of budget 2014?

A: That was very cordial. He made an open invitation to the Opposition to look at issues and the progress that has been made within the country as unified nation irrespective of political differences. He dealt with areas where it was criticized sometimes by the Opposition members without any validity or reason. President dealt with all issues raised by the Opposition members and gave precise answers to their queries. President’s participation in Parliament to deliver the reply speech of the budget is very unique as none of his predecessors have done so during their tenure of office. If former Presidents also held the Finance portfolio they never came to Parliament to respond to the queries raised during a budget debate. Therefore the decision taken by the President should be honored and appreciated.

Q: The President in his reply speech made an open invitation to the Opposition to join hands with the Government to promote national reconciliation and the country’s development efforts. Your comments?

A: It is something which is noble. The President is showing the path of working together on common and national issues.

What the President attempted to convince on the floor of the House was that you can wage your political war outside Parliament, but when it comes to the national interest, the President called upon the Opposition to cooperate with the Government. I think it’s a pragmatic approach adopted by the President that one has to really appreciate.