'Gimmicks won't work in politics'

By Ranil Wijayapala

Shan Wijayalal de Silva, a one-time student activist and government servant, entered politics after contesting the crucial Southern Provincial Council (SPC) election in 1993 under the People's Alliance. He earned his political reputation after serving the people through his own initiatives and climbed the ladder of politics through his commitment and dedication to serve his party and the people. As a Provincial Councillor he climbed to the top most position of the Provincial Council in 2004 after serving as Vice Chairman and the Chairman of the Southern Provincial Council and re-appointed as the Chief Minister of the Southern Provincial Council in 2009. Now he awaits to be re-elected and re-appointed to the top most position in the Southern Province for the third consecutive term after March 29th election.

In an interview withthe Sunday Observer he expressed confidence over the victory of the UPFA at the March 29 election enabling them to continue their development initiatives under the Mahinda Chinthana program.

Excerpts of the interview

Q: As a Member representing the SPC since 1993, you were appointed twice as Chief Minister. What kind of changes did you make to the Provincial Council during your two terms as Chief Minister?

A: Making the Provincial Council an institution which directly dealt with the development process in the province was the major challenge we had to face during my tenure as Chief Minister.

We as Members of the Council committed ourselves to face that challenge effectively. Today I am glad to say that we could shape the Provincial Council as the most pro-people political institution in the Southern Province. People work closely with us.

We turned an institution which was considered a white elephant into a vibrant political institution to cater to the needs of the people. I can proudly say that, it was the biggest change we made within the Provincial Council system during my two terms as Chief Minister.

Q: There is a perception among politicians and also those who are contesting the election that without any Ministerial post or Chief Ministers’ post there is no possibility to serve the people through the Provincial Council system?

A: That is an unreasonable and baseless idea. As a Member of the Provincial Council since 1993, I have set an example to make that statement a baseless one. In 1993, I was only a backbencher in the Provincial Council.

But even as a backbencher I did not idle in the council. Through various innovative programs I served the people in the province. This helped me to become the Vice Chairman of the next Provincial Council and later the Chairman of the Provincial Council. I did not go after portfolios, but I served the people through my own initiatives. When I was appointed the Chief Minister for the first time I obtained 61,000 preferential votes. At the next election the number of preferential votes increased to 91,000. That is because people were happy with the service I rendered. People had confidence in me as I served them through my own initiatives. I did not look for portfolios.

Once we are given portfolios we should do justice to it irrespective of the nature of that appointment. Then people will definitely admire that service. The masses look for people who can serve them.

Q: We can see mega development projects such as highways, ports and airports being implemented in the Southern province. But there is a perception among the people that people living in remote villages in the Southern province are not benefiting from these development projects?

A: Yes there are many mega development projects taking place in the province. The Southern highway is constructed across the Southern province. Haven't the rural community benefited from that highway ? Colombo-based investors use this highway to come to the Southern Province to start industries because this is profitable rather than starting them in Colombo and the suburbs. They have easy access to lands and labour from the province itself. These benefits directly go to the rural masses in the province. The international airport in Mattala helps us to take our products directly to the international market. The number of direct and indirect employment opportunities and industries generated through these projects are immense.

Infrastructure facilities in remote villages are also being rapidly developed due to these projects. The concept of remote villages are now being eliminated from the southern province map. Nobody can say that the grassroot level community in the province is not benefiting from these development projects.

Q: There is public opinion that the Hambantota district is given priority in development activities compared to the other two districts in the province. What is your opinion?

A: In the past when governments were toppled government servants supporting the opposition are transferred to the Hambantota district. University intake from the Hambantota district was given the lowest marks as it was a remote district at that time. This clearly indicates that the Hambantota district was never given the facilities enjoyed by other districts. There was a perception that the Hambantota district was given step-motherly treatment until President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President representing the Hambantota district.

Hambantota is no more a remote district. The injustices done to the district throughout the history has now come to an end. The best results from the Year 5 scholarship examination and also from the Advance Level examination were reported from the Hambantota district. People in Hambantota have made sacrifices when the country was facing ta roublesome period.

Q: After completing two terms as Chief Minister do you expect to become the Chief Minister again?

A: There are so many qualifications that have to be fulfilled to be appointed Chief Minister. Seniority in the party, services rendered to the people, contribution made to strengthen the party are among them.

Not only that the portfolios held in the party and the way he or she fulfilled responsibilities in those posts and the number of preferential votes obtained will also be considered when appointing a person as Chief Ministers.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the leaders of the UPFA will consider all those facts when appointing the Chief Minister of the Southern Provincial Council after the election. I have fulfilled all those requirements. I have been appointed as the Deputy Secretary post in the SLFP and also Executive committee Member of the UPFA considering my previous commitments and activities. People are voting me as I work towards strengthening the party. As I am getting the blessings from both sides I am confident that I will be able to handle the Provincial

Council for another term based on the results we gain.

Q:It is apparent that there is huge competition among the UPFA candidates for the Chief Ministers post. Don't you think that this situation will hamper the UPFA election campaign ?

A:Any candidate contesting the election can name themselves as Chief Ministerial candidate. It is good to have such hope when contesting for an election. But it is ultimately the people who decide to accept them as Chief Minister or not. Mere name boards won't work at any election. After people's decision President Mahinda Rajapaksa make the final selection based on the recommendations of the Executive Committee of the party. Many candidates mention their names as the chief Ministerial candidates to encourage their voters. In a way it is good to encourage the voters. That will increase the overall vote base of the party also.

Q: A number of the actors and actresses also have entered politics and are contesting the elections. What is your opinion on this trend?

A: When making policies, it is important to get the representation of all segments of the society. Actors, actresses and vocalists are also segment of people with vast experience in the field of arts. By making them people's representatives will enable to get their contribution also for the development initiatives of the country. They will also get an opportunity to render their service to their industry after becoming policy makers. Therefore, it is good to have actors and actresses and vocalists in politics.

Q: Do you consider the entry of such popular figures to politics as a challenge to the politicians ?

A: It cannot be a challenge to any politician. If politicians are well established among people entry of such characters won't be a challenge for them. Artistes are a section of people who entertain the people.

Politicians are establishing their position in the society after serving the people while living among the people. People expect different things from politicians compared to the things they expect from the artistes.

Therefore, there is a vast difference between those two roles. Politics is serving practically to the people with dedication and commitment. Mere gimmicks won't work in politics. They are short lived in politics.

Commitment to the people cannot be shown in artificial manner. Therefore, arrival of such characters into politics cannot be a challenge to politicians.

Q: What kind of changes will the UPFA make in the Provincial Council if the election is won?

A: There is no doubt about our victory. We are sure of our victory at the Southern Provincial Council. For the past few years we conducted the Provincial Council under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. We continued the programmes stipulated in the Mahinda Chinthana program.

Therefore, there is no need to make any changes to that programmes we carried out under Mahinda Chinthana. We will continue the same programme in the Provincial Council in future too because it is a people-friendly program.

Q: If you get an opportunity to make a change in the Provincial Council system what sort of change will you make?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa was born in the South. I also born in the South. President Mahinda Rajapaksa could unite the country after defeating the 30 yea terrorism in the country. Some groups are trying to divided the country again taking the advantage of some sections of the 13thAmendment to the Constitution. Though I worked in the provincial Council I will never agree to change the unitary status of the country and divide this country. I will support any endeavour to amend the sections of the Constitution that will pose a challenge to the unitary status of the country. Provincial Councils should be there to target the provincial development. If there is anything that will affect the regional development we will definitely remove them if we get any chance to make any changes to the Provincial Council system.

Q: Do you think that the Opposition can be a challenge to the UPFA at the forthcoming election?

A: There is a whole bunch of leaders in the Opposition. When Sajith is saying something in Hambantota, Ranil Wickremesinghe is saying a totally different thing in Colombo. When Karu Jayasuriya proposes something, Ravi Karunanayake is proposing another thing. It is like a fight inside a room. Even in Galle when Vajira is saying something Gayantha says something totally opposite. It is meaningless to talk about the challenge posed by an Opposition which cannot settle the disputes within the party

Q: What kind of estimate do you have in your mind about a UPFA victory in the Galle district and also in the Southern Provincial Council as a whole?

A: We will secure an unprecedented victory this time around. That will exceed the victory we gained the last time where we d secured a two thirds mandate. This time we are targeting a five sixth mandate in the Southern Provincial Council. People know who is with them. They are aware who was behind the defeat of terrorism and who is really having real concerned to develop villages. Our victory at the forthcoming election is a foregone conclusion. We were always there with the people whether we were in power or not.

Therefore, we are sure of securing the highest number of votes.