Politicians should not hold office in sports - Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said the Opposition is well aware that they are not in a position to topple the Government in an election. They engage in a futile attempt to break the UPFA by misleading the people saying that if they came to power they would abolish the Executive Presidency.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that it is obvious the Common Candidate is a proposal put forward by the LTTE diaspora to defeat the Leader who eradicated the three decade-old terrorism and brought development to the country.

The Minister said we won the war against terrorists thanks only to the Executive Presidency. At present massive development is taking place and all our economic indicators are good. We need the Executive Presidency.

The only problem with it is when the person holding the office abuses its powers. Since President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office, nobody can point a finger at the President that he has abused its powers.

The Opposition cannot go to the villages and convince the people that the incumbent Government has not done anything for them. At present the Government has successfully overcome all public requirements and the Opposition does not have a topic or slogan to take up during an election campaign. They attempt to take up the Executive Presidency as an issue to mislead the public.

Q: What are the advantages of the the Defence seminar to Sri Lanka organised by the Sri Lanka Army in the post-terrorism era?

A: During the war against terrorists, there was no environment conducive to hold a single seminar, tournament or any other function in Sri Lanka. Nobody came to Sri Lanka due to the threat of terrorism which prevailed in the country. After we militarily defeated the world's most powerful terrorist outfit, everybody is asking how we successfully did it. Even the US, the UK and the West were astonished as to how we eradicated terrorism.

Everybody is keen to know and share the experience of how we won the war against terrorists with a homegrown military strategy. That is why delegates worldwide came to Sri Lanka to participate in the Defence Seminar to get firsthand information about Sri Lanka's significant experience of defeating terrorism.

Senior military top brass and defence attaches from over 66 countries took part in this three day seminar held under the theme, ‘Sri Lanka: Challenges to a Rising Nation’ to discuss on thematic issues relating to Sri Lanka's post conflict recovery and diverse challenges facing the nation in its march towards becoming the 'Wonder of Asia'. Holding this kind of international conference would pave the the way to project Sri Lanka's image globally as a country which eradicated terrorism by setting an example to the world.

Q: The movement to abolish the Executive Presidency is gathering momentum. Is there a need to do away with the Executive Presidency?

A: Actually not a single person is asking to abolish the Executive Presidency. At present there is no problem in this country. We have successfully won the war against terrorists and a huge development drive is being carried out in the country. At the moment the people don't have a huge problem. The only problem is the cost of living issue.

Other than that the Government has done everything for the people. The Government is also trying its level best to bring down the cost of living and provide relief to the people. The Opposition cannot go to the villages and convince the people that the Government has not done anything for them.

Ten years ago, the Opposition went to the villages and said that the Government has not done anything to develop roads and has not given electricity and water to the people.

At present the Government has successfully overcome all these public requirements. The Opposition does not have a topic or slogan to take up during an election campaign.

So the Opposition takes the Executive Presidency as a new issue to mislead the public. Because the Opposition is well aware that they are not in a position whatsoever to topple the Government through an election. So they are engaging in a futile attempt to break the UPFA by misleading the people that they would abolish the Executive Presidency.

We won the war against terrorists only because of the Executive Presidency.

If there was no Executive President in this country, then there would have been a Prime Minister who was held responsible to Parliament. If some foreign dignitaries like David Miliband who visited Sri Lanka during the final phase of the war against terrorists exerted pressure via Parliament to stop the war on terrorism, then the Prime Minister will have to stop it.

We won the war against terrorism thanks to the Executive Presidency. At present massive development is taking place and all our economic indicators are good. We need the Executive Presidency. The only problem is when the person holding the office abuses the powers.

Since President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office, nobody can point a finger at President that he has abused its powers. The President is handling the post of Executive Presidency very well. Just about ten to fifteen people are demanding that the Executive Presidency be abolished. This is not a public requirement. It is obvious that the Common Candidate is a proposal put forward by the LTTE diaspora to defeat the Leader who eradicated the three decade-old terrorism and brought development to the country.

Q: Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe repeatedly said on political platforms that “Uva was poor”. Is this correct? Could you explain the Government's development drive in the Badulla and Moneragala districts?

A: I like to talk about education in the Uva province. Of the nine provinces, Uva is number two with regard to G.C.E. Advanced Level examination results. In my province, the Kandy district, we are number seven. This is a clear indication that in the Uva province, education has reached a high level. Former Uva Province Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa has done a good job to develop the province. Even the Central Government Education Ministry can follow this example from him. Because he has done a tremendous job to develop education in the Uva province.

Massive infrastructure development has taken place here. Every road has been developed while electricity and water have been provided to a large number of people in the province. TheOpposition is not in a position to take up any meaningful slogan during for their election campaign, that is why they are talking about poverty in Uva.

Most of the tea-small holders are in Uva. At present a guaranteed price has been given for tea and other minor agricultural crops like cinnamon, pepper and cloves.

Q: Uva will certainly be a hotly-contested election for the UPFA and the UNP. What are the prospects of the UPFA retaining power?

A: The UPFA does not have any problem winning the Uva PC election. It may be a hotly-contested election for the UNP. When we went to North Central, Sabaragamuwa, Western and Southern provinces, the people said the same thing. Even the people in Uva are telling the same thing. The UPFA won all those elections with a two third majority. Likewise, the UPFA is going to win the Uva PC election with a two third majority.

The Government has done a lot to develop this area. The vast majority in this province are with the Government. We can clearly see that difference when the election campaign began. It's not about the numbers attending the political meeting but just when President Mahinda Rajapaksa gets off the vehicle, about 4000 to 5000 people can be seen. as for the UNP under the patronage of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe even the chairs on the election platform remained empty.

There are only 30 or 40 people at meetings attended by Ranil Wickremesinghe. This is the reality. What is the UNPin the talking about Uva PC election? The UNP brought Harin Fernando as their Chief Ministerial candidate, as a result, his entire political career collapsed. The UNP didn't give him even leadership in Badulla. Ravindra Samaraweera is the leader.

If Harin Fernando is the Chief Ministerial candidate, he should should be given the leadership. Now Harin can't open any party office without getting permission from Ravindra Samaraweera. Harin is only a candidate. Harin will take a good political decision on September 21.

Q: Some constituent parties of the UPFA repeatedly criticise certain Government moves. Is this a good feature for a Government which has won the hearts of the people?

A: Actually it is bad. If there is any problem, we should discuss it among the constituent parties of the UPFA. Because there is a forum to discuss it. We can discuss at the Group Meeting, Central Committee and the Cabinet. But as a politician, I don't agree when some of the constituent parties of the UPFA go before the public and take up these issues. Some politicians are trying to be like Tarzans and they want to show the public that they are the best politicians.

But everybody must realise that “people living in glass-houses should not throw stones at others”. It is the responsibility of all to safeguard this Government which won three decades of terrorist war and rebuilt the country. We should sort out our problems under the UPFA.

Q: The TNA kept mum when Prabhakaran was on a killing spree. Could the people now accept their credentials for democracy?

A: Definitely not. The TNA was fully with the LTTE and they were their mouthpiece. They can't talk about democracy. We know what they did during the time of war against terrorists. Now the TNA can see for themselves the massive development y the Government has initiated in the North and the East.

If there was a terrorist war, this could never have taken place.

Education levels have gone up in the North infrastructure development has reached new levels and the people are happy. Therefore the people in the North don't ask anything. Democracy has been restored in the North and two elections have been held. The Government has given everything to the North and the East. Actually this also looks like the demand made by a few individuals to abolish the Executive Presidency. A few TNA MPs are making a big fuss about democracy and power devolution. But the people are not making such demands. If we go to Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu or anywhere in the North and ask about their problems, they say that they don't want anything. They only talk about improving livelihood and infrastructure facilities. It is obvious that the TNA is dancing according to the whims and fancies of the LTTE diaspora.

Q: The eradication of LTTE terrorism itself is proof of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's credentials to lead the country to prosperity. In this context, don't you think the proposal to field a Common Candidate is a futile exercise?

A: Definitely. They adopted the same thing at the last Presidential Election as well. Ranil Wickremesinghe will never quit his post. That is why he put Sarath Fonseka as the Common Candidate of the Opposition last time. Now this Common Candidate issue has come from the LTTE diaspora as well. The LTTE diaspora is also behind this Common Candidate issue.

They want to defeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa. What is the mistake made by the President? Why are all these factions rallying to abolish the Executive Presidency and fielding a Common Candidate to defeat President Rajapaksa? According to them, winning the war against terrorists and developing the country are the two biggest mistakes made by the President. by the LTTE diaspora and certain sections here attempting to defeat the Leader who eradicated terrorism and developed the country, they are only committing a grave crime against the country.

Q: What is the impact of Mahela's retirement to Sri Lanka Cricket?

A: It is an irreparable loss to Test cricket. During my period, I have met five or six captains in Sri Lanka. But Mahela was the best captain that I have seen. He was a good leader. I don't think that we will find a captain of his calibre. As a gentleman he took the right decision. His thinking is that youngsters should be brought in. But I don't think we would fill the gap for the next couple of years.

Q: Have you settled the issues in Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and ironed out differences between the two most senior officials? Is there any truth in allegations made by some senior cricketers against a senior SLC official?

A: No. There is no truth in that allegation. Cricketers don't want to talk about the administration and they should play cricket. That is not their job. What happened is that for the first time players asked a huge payment. So the Cricket Board decided to reduce it by 25 percent. It is an EXCO-decision. Everybody took a unanimous decision. But finally what happened was they put the sole blame onto one person. The EXCO is reflected as one particular person. The players got angry with him. That is not fair. Cricketers should play cricket. Let the the administrators do the administration and the Government will look after them. When players interfere with the administration, we can't do this job. If administrators play cricket, it would be a problem and vice versa.

Q: When will the National Olympic Committee (NOC) elections be possible? We understand that the Sports Ministry is now working closely with the NOC to introduce legislation on par with the International Olympic Committee requirements?

A: Everything has already been done in this regard. We are going to have elections soon.

Q: What are your views on politicians holding office in Sports Federations? Doesn't it reflect badly?

A: My personal view is that politicians should not hold office in sports. But a Supreme Court ruling has been given regarding this. Because former Sri Lankan Captain Arjuna Ranatunga has filed a case. Politicians have the right to contest those sports portfolios and we can't stop that.

Q: What has the sports ministry done to field a strong team for next month's Asian Games?

A: There was a list of 159 athletes. I have curtailed it to 72. If the athletes are not sixth by Asian standards , we are not going to send them for the Asian Games. We hope to get five to six medals in the Asian Games, even though I am not happy with what is going on at the moment.

After these Asian Games, we are going to take radical decisions in sports. We have to do huge changes . I am waiting till the Asian Games ends.

Q: How do you you look at the performance of our athletes at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games?

A: I am not satisfied with their performance. We should have taken at least three medals. But we just got only a single medal. As I said earlier, I am waiting till the Asian Games are over. Because we have to take some firm decisions.