Government ready for any election - Deputy Speaker

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said the SLFP was a party which had a clear majority to run this country on its own. Of the 225 members in Parliament, the SLFP has 117 members which is more than the required majority in Parliament.

The Deputy Speaker in an interview with the Sunday Observer said even so the SLFP has never acted arbitrarily without giving a hearing to the feelings and aspirations of smaller parties. That is why parties that were not there at the time of victory joined hands with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President is one the most experienced and sensitive leaders who will do his best to give a hearing to any issue. It is up to the parties of the alliance to be fair and realise that this is the only leader who could deliver and reach a compromise. The constituent parties of the alliance can pinpoint shortcomings, rectify them and move forward.

The Deputy Speaker said that he does not see any leader who is capable enough to challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa not only in Sri Lanka but in the region as well. The incumbent government has always had elections in advance before the end of the term for which they have been elected. “We are democratic and a people's party which has been delivering and discharging our duty to the people. The majority of the people are with us and we have no fear whatsoever to face any election”, he said.

Q: The Government has since decided to consult all parties representing Parliament to decide as to whether the country should cooperate or not with the UNHRC appointed international panel. Could you elaborate on the Government's decision?

A: The SLFP Central committee which met recently under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided that this matter should be referred to Parliament. Probably based on the presumption that there is a motion submitted by nine UPFA Parliamentarians saying that UNHRC inquiry will have an adverse impact on the peace that is prevailing in the country and reconciliation process that is set in motion. Parliament is the supreme body which represents the people's voice. In the past also there were many occasions that Parliament had expressed its opinion by way of resolutions in respect of various matters of national importance. Parliamentary jurisdiction is not restricted and it enjoys absolute freedom of speech which has been parliamentary tradition. If we take the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, often these elements have moved various Motions against Sri Lanka in the House of Commons and in other Parliaments such as the Canadian Parliament. In this instance it is purely a matter of national importance. Parliament is the apex, supreme body in Sri Lanka where this matter should be discussed.

Q: The West-dominated UNHRC is the “Policeman, prosecutor and judge in the world theatre”. Would you like to comment on this?

A: The Sri Lankan Government has also been a part of the UN. But my personnel opinion is that it should be so, as long as that organisation upholds and respects the sovereignty of Sri Lanka. If you go by the UN Charter what they uphold most is the sovereignty of a country. I believe the officers discharging their responsibilities as paid employees of this organisation should be mindful and responsible in discharging their duties in the manner that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the member nations are not infringed. We are a part of the UN system. Sri Lanka has been a long standing member of the UN which has always complied and ratified a majority of the treaties. But it does not mean that Sri Lanka should be a subject at the whims and fancies of paid employees of that organisation who will impose their personnel agendas.

Q: Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha has flatly rejected Navi Pillay's probe into alleged human rights violations. Is that the Sri Lankan Government's stand or his personnel view on this issue?

A: Officially it is the External Affairs Ministry that has to take the decision. Probably that is the decision that the External Affairs Ministry officially communicated through Ariyasinghe.

Q: the TNA has once again proved their separatist sentiments by supporting the UNHRC probe. It is quite evident that they are hell-bent on forming an Eelam which they could not achieve militarily. Your comments?

A: I see the TNA is operating in this manner for political and personnel gain. What is unfortunate is that they are pretending as if there is a separate state. The leaders and all those who canvass for such will also have to go back to the separate state with their families who had lived here for generations without any problem.

These are double standards adopted by TNA Leaders to gain power and popularity among the people who are living in extreme difficult conditions without getting them also the benefits that they are enjoying in Colombo and outside Sri Lanka. It is the Government that is developing those areas by giving them the infrastructure and other facilities to uplift their living standards. I believe this so called Colombo based TNA leadership which is enjoying benefits should not try to arouse issues outside Sri Lanka in various international organisations. They should join hands with the Government and contribute their best to develop the areas so that the people of the North also could live like the TNA Leaders who are leading a cushy life in Colombo.

Q: After a considerable period of time, the BJP has formed a stable Government under the able stewardship of Narendra Modi. Do you think that the new Indian Government will work to enhance cordial bilateral ties?

A: Personally I believe India made a big mistake by not attending to CHOGM. India is our closest neighbour and big brother. If India's leadership in the region is recognised then they should extend voluntary assistance and friendship to smaller

nations who are their neighbours.

At the moment they keep away so that brotherhood and the relationship between the parties is strained. They also lose their position as the Leader in South East Asia. I believe that Indian Premier Narendra Modi has realised it and he will do his best to strengthen the relationship between Sri Lanka and India while respecting the integrity, autonomy and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has been an independent state. It has never been a state of any other country. I believe our big brother will be mindful of that and strengthen the relationship with the 'smaller brother'.

Q: Although Sri Lanka eradicated terrorism under the able leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, terrorism is still prevalent in other parts of the SAARC region. The recent attack at the Karachi Airport proves it beyond doubt. As a strong SAARC member, what should be our role in wiping out terrorism in the region?

A: For that we must get together and we must appreciate the support that was extended by China and Pakistan in eradicating terrorism. If we didn't get the support of China and Pakistan within the region, we would have not achieved our goal of defeating terrorism. I believe a majority of the Asian and South Asian countries recognise the talent, experience and exposure that we had in eradicating terrorism. We believe we have had that experience can contribute a lot to that. I believe as SAARC members we should get together and share our experience and see that terrorism is eradicated in other SAARC countries as well.

Q: There is widespread speculation that there will be a snap national election in the near future and your party hierarchy has alerted all electoral organisers to be ready for it. Is it going to be a Presidential Election or a General Election?

A: My personnel opinion is that it will be a Presidential Election. But whether it is a Presidential or General Election, our party is not afraid of any election. We have never postponed elections.

We have always had elections in advance before the end of the term for which the people have elected us. We are a democratic party and a people's party which has always delivered and discharged our duties to the people. The majority of the people are with us. We have no fear whatsoever to face elections.

Q: Rumour is rife that a joint Opposition would field a Common Candidate at the next Presidential Election. If so will they pose a challenge to the incumbent presidency?

A: Naturally when they say a Common Opposition candidate, they admit that they are looking forward to a candidate to remain in the Opposition. Whoever comes what are the options that are available. All the names that have been mentioned here and there have been rejected for a long time. None of them have come forward with any acceptable proposals to the people.

They have been going down the drain day by day. I don't see any leader who is capable enough to challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa not only in Sri Lanka but in the region as well.

Q: Some constituent parties of the UPFA such as the NFF, JHU and SLMC seem to be at logger heads with the main

SLFP on certain crucial issues stipulated by them. What would be the stand taken by the SLFP hierarchy?

A: Actually this is not something new. The uniqueness of the alliance is that under the President's leadership, we have kept together political parties that have opposing views in one group. That is the benefit accrued to the people. Not only with them, even with other parties, there are various arguments and grievances among the main party and other parties. If you take the SLFP members, sometimes even they have grievances against smaller parties. But the SLFP has a clear majority even to run this country on its own. Of the 225 members in Parliament, the SLFP has 117 members which is more than the required majority in Parliament.

But the SLFP has never acted arbitrarily by not giving a hearing to the feelings and aspirations of smaller parties.

That is why the parties that had not been there at the time of victory also joined hands with President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President is one of the most experienced and sensitive leaders who will do his best to give a hearing to these issues. It is up to those

parties to be fair and realise the fact that this is the only leader who could deliver and come to a compromise. It is obvious that the majority of the people are with the President and his leadership and policies. We don't say that our Government has been hundred percent correct right through. There have been mistakes and shortcomings which is natural. It is up to the parties of the alliance to pinpoint whatever shortcomings that we had in the past, rectify them and move forward.

Q: The Government has banned several websites for reasons of indecent reporting bringing institutions and individuals to public humiliation. How would you explain this?

A: If we talk about media freedom in Sri Lanka, in 2004, we had only four television stations and six radio stations. Now we have 18 television stations and 36 radio stations. As for the print media I don't know the exact number. It is only during the regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, all these developments were made in the media sector. This is absolute media freedom. The media has the right to criticise anyone. This is obvious when we read the newspaper and what they report.

But there has to be some responsibility. We should not allow a person to sling mud or slander without revealing the root cause. I believe not only in Sri Lanka, that this is not allowed, this is so in any other country as well. It is not fair. If a Member of Parliament using Parliamentary privilege is slandering a Government official or anyone else who is not in a position to come to Parliament and have it on live telecast, we can't allow that to happen. But any website which is registered and has authenticity can operate in this country.

Q; Religious extremism by newly formed groups have caused a chaotic situation among communities in various

parts of the country. Why doesn't the Government intervene and try to establish communal harmony and settle matters?

A: I believe the Government has done its best and is doing its best as well. One must understand the external influence that is brought into this at various points. If you are mindful of external influence to guide these groups, it speaks for itself.

Any religion has its own traditions. Followers should understand to be with the religious leaders who have been following the traditions of that religion in their villages or areas. Then I don't think this type of problems will arise. These extremist groups are guided by unknown forces to create problems in this country. We must be doubly alert about it.