Opposition leader dances to imperialists' tune - Sabaragamuwa CM

by Ranil Wijayapala and Nissanka Padmasekara Rambukkana Gr Cor.

Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, Mahipala Herath

The Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, Mahipala Herath in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that whatever the conspiracies launched by the power hungry politicians in the Opposition, the UPFA Government has no doubt about victory at future elections as the support of the common masses is always with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government.

He said that Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was dancing to the tune of the imperialists and getting their support as he had no strength to make a regime change.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: It seems that government is facing a challenging situation in the country both locally and internationally, according to the opposition. Amidst this situation how the UPFA government is going to face the upcoming elections?

A: As the UPFA government we cannot see any challenge from the common masses of the country.

The only challenge government faces is from the power hungry politicians and from the international forces which are trying to have regime change in the country to have a leader dancing to the tune of imperialists.

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has no strength to make any regime change in the country.

Therefore, he is trying to get the support of the international conspirators to grab power from the present government.

At the same time Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna which was instrumental in destroying State property and assassinating politicians and innocent people in the country also needs to show that they can challenge the government.

But the common masses in this country are always with the government and they have not accepted the views of the UNP or the JVP.

So there is no challenge for the Government from the common masses in the country and we are ready to face any election without any challenge.

Q: A huge debate is back within the political circles about the executive Presidency. Some are arguing in support of the executive presidency whilst some are arguing against it. What is your personal opinion on the executive Presidency?

A: The Executive Presidency was introduced to this country by the United National Party in 1978. J.R. Jayewardhane who became the first Executive President of the country made use of his executive power to be in power and extended the term of the parliament by forcibly imposing a referendum on the people.

But the present President is making use of those powers for the betterment of the country.

During the 30 years of terrorism we were not in a position to think of development of this country due to wide spread terrorism.

But it was the firm decision making power of the executive President that helped us to end that three decades long conflict. Today, President Mahinda Rajapaksa not only ended the war but striving to hand over a well developed country to our future generation.

When we take history, though we had more than one hundred kings who ruled the country, only a handful of Kings were united the country. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is one such king who united the country.

He is making use of the powers under the executive presidency for the betterment of the country.

Those who have no sense or feeling about the country and its people cannot tolerate the way the President is making use of these powers. That is why they are making maximum efforts to abolish executive presidency.

Q: Does that mean we need executive Presidency in this country?

A: I am of the view that for the President Mahinda Rajapaksa who has been twice elected as executive President, need executive Presidency in the country to accomplish his vision of making Sri Lanka the miracle of Asia.

The executive presidency should be there for him to complete his mission.

Q: The common opposition is of the view that the executive Presidency should be abolished. What is the government view on this?

A: The opposition is always trying to sabotage the government programmes to develop this country. We observe that some opposition parties specially the Opposition Leader has become a henchman of the imperialists and working according to their agenda to obstruct the programmes of the government.

He is now saying that he is going to abolish the Executive Presidency and the present proportional representation system. Ranil Wickremesinghe who has contested almost all the Presidential election is now united with the common opposition and say that the executive presidency should be abolished.

I am of the opinion that this is an opportunistic statement by Ranil Wickremesinghe. We as personnel who have closely associated Ranil Wickremesinghe know that he completely change his stance once come into power. His attempt is to become Imperialist Dictator after contesting the Presidential election, but not otherwise.

Q: The 13th amendment to the Constitution is also subjected to argument these days. As the Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Province what is your opinion on these arguments?

A: I am of the opinion that powers vested with the Provincial Councils under the 13th amendment to the constitution is more than enough for us to serve the people.

As a former MP and a Minister and as a thrice appointed Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, I should say that there should be a political institution like Provincial Council, for a small country like us, to implement the policies of the central government at grassroots level.

The governments which were in power also made use of Provincial Councils as implementing agencies of their policies. The present government is also doing the same.

As a politician who have represented both institutions the Parliament and Provincial Council I should say that we can rule this country as a unitary country also but it can make use of the Provincial Council to implements the policies of the central government.

Now politicians are talking about the Police powers and Land powers. I am of the opinion the powers given to Provincial Council is more than enough to serve the people.

Q: The Northern Provincial Council is claiming Police and Land powers under them. This has become a challenging situation for the Government. How the government is going to face this situation?

A: This is a country with nine provinces and we very clearly know the ulterior motives of the Northern Provincial Council when they claim Police and Land powers. If slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran wanted to establish separate state in the North and the East, I feel that those who are claiming police and land powers to their Provincial Councils may also be having similar motives.

If we look at the amount of development that has taken place and the amount of funds the Government had pumped to develop the North, there is no necessity for the Northern Provincial Council to have police and land power if they don't have ulterior motive of setting up a separate state in the North.

We should also look into history. I personally see that there is a danger in giving police and land powers to the Northern Provincial Council also. Not only Sri Lanka, India will also have to face the repercussions of it if we give them land and police powers.

Q: The TNA representative met Indian leaders saying that there is no progress with regard handing over Police and Land powers to the Northern Provincial Council. How do you look at the response of India towards the TNA representatives of these meetings?

A: I see the Indian Prime Minister as a person having clear vision about India and also as a leader who can maintain and manage cordial relations with neighbouring countries.

He has clearly stated that he will not interfere in the internal matters of any country. Therefore, I think he will not make use of his position against any of his neighbouring country whatever objectives the groups which meet him may have.

Q: The trade unions attached to the health sector had launched several strikes and trade union actions recently. As the Minister of Health in the Southern Province how do you see this situation?

A: My personnel view is that all these trade union actions are linked with the conspiracies launched by power hungry politicians to grab power from the present government.

I clearly know that the JVP is behind these strikes. They are the ones who takes the leadership of these trade union actions.

It is not fair to launch such subversive activities at a time the country has reached the fastest economic growth and at a time government is making its full effort to develop this country. I also feel that through these activities the political parties also trying raise funds for their political activities.

It is not the government but the innocent people of this country who suffer lot from these trade union activities. The people of this country have wisely understood this situation and not falling into their traps. They are always with the President and the government.

That is the tower of strength we are having because whatever the conspiracies the opposition is having to topple the government it is only the people of this country who can topple governments but not those conspirators.

Q: There were reports to indicate that some Non Government Organizations have received funds to launch campaign to abolish executive Presidency. How do you view this situation?

A: The requirement of these NGOs or the opposition parties challenging the government is not the abolition of executive presidency. What they really want is to prevent the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the third consecutive time. But people of this country is not ready to listen to them. They have lined up to make President Mahinda Rajapaksa victorious at the next Presidential elections too for the third consecutive time.

Q: Under the present political situation of the country how sure the government of winning the forthcoming Uva Provincial Council elections?

A: We are hundred percent sure of our victory at the Uva Provincial Council. This has not become a challenge for us. It has become real challenge for the opposition parties which are trying to pose this as challenge for the Government.

I am sure that this will boomerang on the opposition itself compelling them to be in the opposition again. Therefore, we have no doubt about our victory at the forthcoming Uva Provincial Council election and the future elections.

Q: As the Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Province you came under severe media criticism over certain issues. How do you take these media criticism as a politician?

A: I always have my respect towards the media. We receive criticism as well as honours from the media. It is the responsibility of the media institutions to pass the correct message to the people.

If they are not passing the correct message to the people I believe that there is something wrong with them. Therefore, I also take the criticism of the media based on their motives. Otherwise I ignore those criticisms.

There were instances some media organizations making baseless allegations against them. Some people told me to take legal action against them.

But I never did so because the people of this country knows very well who is correct and who is not correct. Therefore, I don't want to go against any media institution because I also built my career as a politician through media.

Therefore, I always respect the media and I will never lose that respect towards media.