Tamil vote a decisive factor in Canada and UK :

Playing second fiddle to Tamil diaspora - Minister S.B. Dissanayake

*Opportunity for people in North to exercise franchise:

*Didn't defeat LTTE using satellite technology or nuclear power:

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay and the UN should realise that it is the Tamil people in the North who have gained the biggest advantage after the end of the 30- year war on terrorism. The Minister told the Sunday Observer that after 1977, President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the opportunity to the people in the North to exercise their franchise and elect their representatives.

The Minister said the world as a whole has benefited with the eradication of the world's most dangerous terrorist outfit by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, the US, the UK and Canada didn't envisage that Sri Lanka would defeat the world's most powerful terrorist leader and his outfit. "We didn't defeat LTTE with the use of satellite technology or nuclear power. Our Security Forces defeated the LTTE with mental and physical power. The West is envious over this achievement. We defeated terrorism through a home-grown mechanism. The US thinks this would set a precedent to other countries, that is why they continuously bludgeon Sri Lanka.

Q: The UNP alleges that the attack on the UNP fact- finding mission at Hambantota is Government sponsored. Is there any truth in this?

A: If a UNP fact-finding mission wanted to visit Hambantota, firstly they should have informed the district leader and former UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa. This is the ethical manner they should have adopted. As a former UNPer, I am even aware if any UNP member goes to a funeral. This is the accepted procedure of any political party. This group of UNP members had gone to Hambantota violating party procedure.

I am well aware of this as I was the first National Organiser of the UNP. Sajith Premadasa must be angry about the move taken by these UNP MPs. I think a faction of the UNP was behind this act to raise the ire of SLFPers and the members of the Hambantota Urban Council who respect and love President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

Genuine

If the UNP genuinely wanted to go on a fact-finding mission, they could have informed Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa or Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. Then they would have been welcomed and treated well. The Hambantota Port, Mattala international airport and international conference hall are the pride of our party. Who would not want to show them to anybody? When the UNP fact-finding mission went to Hambantota in a mysterious manner, even without informing the district leader, a minor clash occurred. This was not a major incident. Their security officers had not even informed the Police stations about the visit. They have not followed party guidelines.

If they went with good intention, they would have informed a Government parliamentarian so that he could make necessary arrangements to treat them well. This incident occurred due to the irresponsible conduct of these UNP MPs.

Q: Is there any invisible hand behind the disruptive elements operating in the country. Are they not being aided and abetted to effect a regime change?

A: Those who went on that fact- finding mission to Hambantota are prominent members who gather information to feed foreign elements and carry tales to get a few dollars. They adopt various strategies and resort to various actions to satisfy the needs of these international forces.

Q: It is clear that Canada's decision to stop its contribution to the Commonwealth, UNHRC investigation on Sri Lanka and the allegation of human rights violations and absence of rule of law are orchestrated by the international Tamil vote. Would you agree to this proposition?

A: An LTTEer is in the Canadian Parliament as well. Though Canada is a huge country, comparatively it ha a small population. Therefore, they need human resource. During the past few years, thousands of Tamils migrated to Canada. They have engaged in various white collar and blue collar jobs in Canada.

Canadian citizens

Today most of them are Canadian citizens. Their vote is decisive to Canadian politicians. Most Canadian politicians don't even know where Sri Lanka is. But they do what is requested by the Tamil diaspora. We should not take this seriously. A similar situation prevails in England. There are about 7000 to 8000 Sri Lankan Tamil votes in four or five boroughs in London. These votes are also decisive. UK politiciansare also doing various things targeting elections. But the UN and the world should realise what is happening.

Q: The US and EU initiative in adopting one resolution after another looks absurd in the face of grave human rights violations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya by the star democracies. What made them to single out a small country like Sri Lanka for punitive action?

A: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says that she is a South African and that she is a Tamil. The biggest problem faced by the Tamil diaspora worldwide is that they don't have their own homeland. Navi Pillay must also be thinking that. But they should ask for a separate homeland from South India, not from us. South India is the origin of the Tamil community.

There is no use of focusing on Sri Lanka. Navi Pillay and the UN should realise it is the Tamil people in the North who have gained with the ending of 30 years of the war on terrorism. Housing and Census statistics of 2012 have been released now. Nearly 85 percent in Jaffna, Mannar and Kilinochchi districts are those who have migrated into these areas..

They have lived in other areas during these thirty years and have now returned to their original places. They have not lived in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya or Kilinochchi during Prabhkaran's terror regime . It was Prabhakaran who killed thousands of Tamil children of the EPDP, EPRLF, EROS and TELO. He killed all TULF and Federal Tamil political leaders in Jaffna. Today that death threat doesn' t exist anymore.

The people in the North and the East are free from the clutches of LTTE terrorism. And they gained the maximum advantage. However, they voted against the Government but that is a different scenario. That is the nature of racism and inter-religious extremism. Prabhakaran forcibly recruited at least one child from each family in Jaffna. Most of those children were killed. These families harbour some hatred against the Government and the majority community. This mindset will change in time to come.

Free and fair

We inturn should not look at this with hatred. After 1977, it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who enabled a free and fair election to the North to elect their representatives. India and the world gained with the eradication of LTTE terrorism from Sri Lankan soil. It was India which was seriously affected with the threat of LTTE terrorism. The LTTE assassinated Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Jaya Lalitha and Karunanidhi were hiding then due to the fear of the LTTE. Today there is no such threat.

The world has gained with the eradication of the world's most dangerous terrorist outfit by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The US, UK and Canada didn't envisage that Sri Lanka would defeat the world's most feared terrorist leader and his organisation. We didn't defeat the LTTE with the use of satellite technology or nuclear power. Our Security Forces defeated the LTTE with their mental and physical power. The West is envious over this achievement.

They are trying to bludgeon us. We didn't listen to the US, UK, Canada or even the UN Secretary General. We defeated terrorism with a home-grown mechanism. The US thinks this would set an example to other countries, that is why they attempt to continuously bludgeon Sri Lanka. If India takes Sri Lanka's side tomorrow, the US will withdraw their decision. At present South Asia has become a big problem to the US. China, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka are emerging by overtaking US, Canada and Europe.

Q: The Government's proscription of LTTE front organisations is a step in the right direction. How is that these dangerous organisations preaching violence are allowed to flourish in star democracies?

A: One has to get economic benefits through such organisations as they are needed during their elections. Tamil votes gives an advantage to these countries during elections. This would also provide an opportunity for these star democracies to embarrass a leader of a small country like us because we didn't bow down before them.

Deliberate attempts

At present deliberate attempts are made by the US and Europe to create problems within Asia due to severe economic setbacks faced by them. They attempt to strengthen their military power within Asia. They are operating against us as a joint front.

Q: When countries such as Singapore and Malaysia too have set up casinos which operate within the framework of the country's laws, why is there such a mass opposition against casinos in Sri Lanka?

A: It was the UNP which brought casinos and the Jackpot to Sri Lanka. The UNP allowed casinos at five star hotels in Sri Lanka. Then President R.Premadasa closely associated casino king Jo Sim who came to Sri Lanka from Singapore to operate casinos. He even used official vehicles and pistols of Government Ministers.

Those who oppose casinos hate to accelerate development within the country. Even today casinos are operating freely in Colombo and the suburbs. But nobody wants these shut down because they benefit from them. When a new mixed development project is to commence, they vehemently oppose it.

Attempts are being made by the Government to develop the country through tourism. The Government's intention is to turn Sri Lanka into a trade, naval and aviation hub in the region. When investors come to Sri Lanka to commence business ventures whether we like it or not we have to provide the facilities they require.

Rejected

Certain things which are rejected by us maybe essential components for tourists. If we want to develop the tourism industry, we have to provide these facilities. If we want we can ban this for the locals.

Q: Compared to other countries in the region, Sri Lanka's 7.3 percent GDP growth is remarkable. How do you counter the Opposition argument that the country is indebted to the world and living standards continue to remain unchanged?

A: These are absurd arguments made by the Opposition. We should look at reality. Poverty has declined to 4.6 percent and inflation remains at a single digit over the past seven to eight years. Unemployment has is below five percent.

When poverty and unemployment drops below 5 percent, then that country is said to be free from poverty and unemployment. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the country in 2005, the country's per capita income was US$ 900. At present this has reached US$ 3800.

Only 1.07 percent shanties are there in our country. People can witness development in the country.

Sri Lanka is emerging as a key country in the region. There is no absurd statement than the Opposition's claim that country is indebted. We toppled the then Chandrika Kumaratunga government at a decisive moment. We quit that Government with lot of pain. I even resigned from the post of General Secretary and ministerial portfolio. When we toppled Chandrika Kumaratunga's Government, the debt ratio had gone up 99 percent of the GDP. During Ranil Wickremesinghe's Government, the debt ratio went up to 106 percent.

I was a Minister of that Government as well. President Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the Government when the debt ratio was at 106 percent. At present it is reduced to 77 percent. Then what is this absurd argument made by the UNP? The Government maintains the loan interest rate below 2 percent. Excepting calling them donkieswhat else can they be called? They should refer the relevant statistics of 2012.

Q: You were bold enough to put an end to inhuman ragging in universities and expose the so-called socialists violent disposition in their attempt to sabotage university administration. Could you elaborate?

A: Ragging is just an isolated incident in universities. The LTTE and the JVP used ragging as a tool to turn university students into being their slaves. During the 1984 and 1985 period , the LTTE and the JVP deprived the freedom university students had to elect student leaders through elections. Attempts were made to appoint student leaders from the JVP and LTTE lists. Vice Chancellors had to accept that list.

If anybody tried to contest they were killed. We have changed that situation. Ragging has been reduced to a great extent. Now students are changing their attitudes. Over 90 percent of university lecturers are cooperating with us. A massive change has been made in the universities. Now the universities are going up in world ranking.

Q: You took steps to set up branches of foreign universities in Sri Lanka since India too has done so. Could you explain how it benefits Sri Lankan students and the motive of those who oppose such a progressive move?

A: Some oppose to this move and take political advantage to instigate students. Others oppose to this due to ignorance. This argument is simple. Annually 300000 students sit for the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination. Of them 150,000 qualify for higher education. Now student intake to universities has increased by 300 percent. The student intake in 2005 was 9000, now it is 27,000. Another 125000 students are outside.

Student intake

Whatever steps are taken to increase student intake, nearly 100,000 students are deprived of higher education opportunities. Of them nearly 10,000 to 12,000 students go abroad for higher studies. As a result, we lose foreign exchange. Some students go to Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal which are nearly a 100 years behind when compared with our educational standards.

These students undergo hardship in these countries to continue their higher studies.

We can offer them a higher standard degree in Sri Lanka at reasonable cost. This opportunity can also be given to children in the Asian region as well. We hope Sri Lanka can be developed as a key educational hub in Asia so that it would bring economic benefit to the country.

Q: As a former National Organiser of the UNP, how would you explain the present senile decay of such a national political organisation?

A: This is an important question. Because even some of the members of the UPFA made baseless remarks on the outcome of the recent Provincial Council Election results. As a result, the UNP and the JVP said that they showed a political comeback. The PC election results were compared with the 2009 election results.

Defeating

That 2009 Provincial Council Election was held when President Mahinda Rajapaksa was reaching the peak of defeating the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world. I think UNP MPs like Karu Jayasuriya may have also voted for the Government at that election.

When we look at the overall elections held in the country, then Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike gained two thirds power in 1970.

If two thirds majority was gained by the SLFP in 1970, the UNP had obtained 100000 majority votes than the SLFP. But the UNP secured only seven seats in Parliament. J.R. Jayewardene gained five sixth majority in Parliament in 1977.

But nowhere the UNP's majority votes were not increased rather than the total number of votes obtained by the SLFP. R.Premadasa won the Presidential Election by a majority of nearly 200,000 votes.

Recount

If another 22000 votes were reduced, they would have gone for a second recount. First time Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga obtained 700,000 majority votes. When she contested the second time, this was reduced to 300,000 majority votes.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa won 2005 Presidential Election by a 190,000 majority votes. However, he won 2010 Presidential Election by over majority of 1.8 million votes.

At the recently concluded Provincial Council elections, the majority votes obtained by the UPFA are higher than the total number of votes obtained by the UNP.

Since 1975, the JVP remained as the third force. They have come down to fourth place.

This was not an election held to topple the Government. At these elections, the people have clearly shown the confidence reposed on the President and the Government and their disappointment over the UNP and the JVP.

Q: You have a chequered political career as you have changed your political convictions time and again. How would you justify this?

A: I don't regret what I have done in the past. I came from Russia to contest the 1977 General Election. But I faced a massive defeat as I obtained only 421 votes. Even today I am happy about it. After that I joined the SLFP and was continuously in parliament since 1989.

The eleven-year administration of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was pathetic. There was an economic recession during 2007 to 2009.

However, President Mahinda Rajapaksa successfully faced the crisis. Our y economy developed during that period. This is the strength of the Mahinda Chintana. There was no such crisis in the world in 1999 and 2000. But our debt burden went up to 99 percent and the country's economy for the first time recorded a 1.4 percent negative growth during former President Kumaratunga's regime.

I toppled her Government at that crucial stage. I have some pleasure over it. After that she sent me to jail and she may be happy about it. I too am happy about my imprisonment because I wrote 10 books when I was in jail. I have also written about President Kumaratunga and her father as well. I think the decisions taken by me in the past are correct. Today I am satisfied with fulfilling my tasks under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's leadership. Development is going on apace a surprising the world. Higher education is complex but, I am fulfilling it with satisfaction.