Development drive in Uva will continue - Shasheendra Rajapaksa

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Former Uva Province Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, the youngest of all Chief Ministers made his debut in politics by contesting the Uva Provincial Council Election in 2009 at a pretty young age. A graduate of a premier Indian university, Rajapaksa eventually chose politics as his career in line with the family tradition. He said that during his five year tenure, he made an attempt to bring the Uva Provincial Council to the level of other Provincial Councils. The former Chief Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said he hoped his attempt to develop the province was successful, although much more remains to be done.

He said that he hoped to bring the UPFA vision to the Uva province in a more productive manner in seeking the cooperation of the people to develop the province within the next five years. The development drive already launched will be continued within the next five years under the theme, “Apith Ekwemu Godanegena Uva-Wellassata”.

I am not saying that we have done everything for the province and that we are the best. But I have brought the Uva province to a turning point.

I have done a great deal of development work in the interest of the Uva people. Ultimately, the people are not concerned whether you are in the Pradeshiya Sabha, Provincial Council or Parliament, they ask what they want ! I am delivering what they really need.

Q: Uva is identified as the most backward province development-wise. Is there any truth in this? What are the development projects launched by the UPFA Government?

A: Everybody knows that the Uva province is backward. We are concentrating to develop Uva parallel to the rest of the provinces. That is why I am implementing all the projects which are essential for Uva, like education and other infrastructure development such as roads, electricity and water.

These are the three main infrastructure development that we are looking into. We have already implemented these projects within the province successfully.

We have laid the foundation to develop the province. That is mainly through education. For the first time the “Uva Udanaya” electricity scheme was launched in the Uva province. In 2009, only 43 percent of the Uva population had electricity. At present, this has increased to 89 percent. The intention of the Government is to provide electricity to all the households of Uva by the end of this year. We have done up the major road network in the province. We are now in the process of developing sub roads. We will also launch a program to develop the agricultural roads.

Q: The Opposition describes Moneragala as a lawless area. What is the actual situation? Who are the mischief-makers?

A: Actually that is what they usually do when they are in the Opposition. They accuse the Government and level various baseless allegations. Have they lodged any complaint to the Police regarding this? Even the media knows that there has been a clash between two UNP candidates.

That is where these crimes and mischief is taking place, not us. The JVP is also making baseless allegations to mislead the people that the election laws in the Moneragala district are being violated by underworld characters brought from Colombo and Hambantota.

I categorically state that there are no such underworld characters in Moneragala or in the Uva province as claimed by the JVP. However, a lot of people not only from Colombo and Hambantota but also from the entire country have come to help us. Because politics is a journey which can only move forward with the help of the people. I think the JVP is aware about the underworld rather than any of us. I don't know what the underworld is.

Another allegation leveled by the JVP is that Defender jeeps were roaming the streets of Uva. The Defender jeep is not a weapon its a vehicle with four wheels. I don't know why the Opposition is so scared of Defender jeeps.

These vehicles are used by the UNP and JVP supporters as well. I can't stop somebody coming into the province in a Defender jeep. But vehicles without number plates are not running in our province. I have requested from the IGP to strictly enforce the law and punish those who violate election laws regardless of the positions they hold.

However, allegations against the ruling party is a type of tradition by the Opposition. Even the media does not question as to why the UNP is engaging in election violence. Some of the UNP candidates have resorted to stabbing children of candidates of their own party. This is the violence unleashed by the UNP and this is their habit.

There are instances where attempts are being made by UNPers to drag us into unnecessary clashes. I have personal experience.

Q: The Elections Commissioner at a recent media briefing held said that the prevailing situation in Moneragala is not conducive to conduct an election. Would you like to express your views on this observation?

A: I don't agree. If there are violent incidents in Moneragala as claimed by the Opposition, the Police should get complaints regarding them. Officials of the Elections Commissioner also remove unauthorised election campaign offices opened by political parties. Sometimes, my election offices are also removed.

Because only one office can be opened in a single Grama Niladari division. Sometimes this can be portrayed via the media as an election related offence.

Q: What are the prospects for a UPFA victory in Uva in the context of the UNP's vigorous campaign?

A: As far as I am concerned there is no vigorous campaign from the UNP. At present the UNP is in disarray. Some UNP candidates are fighting with each other. What has the UNP done for the people of Uva to seek a mandate from them?

Q: Uva is primarily an agricultural area and the basic need of the people is water. Are there any concrete measures taken to resolve the problem?

A: Of course. We have to provide water under two categories. One is for drinking and the other is for irrigation. Providing drinking water is the issue. The Provincial Council alone has no ability to completely overcome this situation. Therefore, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has made financial provisions in the Budget to implement six water supply schemes to overcome the drinking water problem in the Uva province. Of the six projects, five are being implemented and one is yet to be implemented.

The rest of the irrigation projects are already in the process excepting for one. This is the Nakkala reservoir. The Weheragala project is complete and the Uma Oya project is being implemented. There are three more other irrigation projects which will be implemented very soon.

The biggest problem is to bring water to Buttala and Moneragala via Kumbukkan Oya. This project which is estimated at Rs. 5400 million commenced three months ago. Nearly 40 percent of the project to provide drinking water to Mahiyangana has also been completed. The drinking water problem in Haliela and Ella towns have also been sorted out. Steps are being taken to overcome drinking water problems in the Bandarawela town.

We hope to provide solutions to the drinking water problem in the next three years. To provide irrigation water for agricultural purposes, steps have been taken to commence the Uma Oya, Weheragala and Makkala irrigation schemes. The Weheragala project is completed. The proposed Makkala project via Buttala would bring irrigation water to Siyabalanduwa, Ethimale up to Kotiyagala.

Q: According to some people, the Provincial Council system is a waste of resources. The scope of the Central Government could cover the entire country. What is your experience as Chief Minister?

A: If the Provincial Council system is implemented properly, it will build a close rapport with the people of the area. We can do a lot of work for the people by concentrating on the province.

Q: Do you consider UNP's Chief Ministerial candidate young Harin Fernando a challenge to you?

A: Not at all. He is not young. He contested with me last time as well.

Q: Do you have any future programs to develop the Uva, specially the Moneragala district?

A: The development drive already launched in the province will be continued for the next five years. “ Apith Ekwemu Godanegena Uva-Wellassata” would be our theme for the next five years. I am not saying that we have done everything for the province and that we are the best. But I have brought the Uva province to a turning point. I have brought the Uva PC to the level of the other Provincial Councils. I hope my attempt has been successful. Yet much more needs to be done.

That is why I decided to contest the Uva Provincial Council Election under the UPFA once again and take forward the task of developing the province. I hope to bring the UPFA vision to the Uva province in a more productive manner in seeking the cooperation of the people to develop the province within the next five years.

Q: The Opposition charges that development of the road network itself is not enough for backward areas but launching economic development projects and uplift of the lives of the people are more important. Your comments?

A: I have represented the UPFA for the past five years and tried my best to develop the Uva province by applying the “ Mahinda Chinthana vision for the future” to the province. The most important aspect is the initiative taken by us to develop education in the Uva province. Because the President is of the view that we can stand on our own as a nation by developing the education sector.

That is why the President has given utmost priority to develop the education sector. As the former Chief Minister and Education Minister of the Uva province, the potential in the province was insufficient to develop education. I sought the assistance of university professors to improve the quality of education with the intention of creating a better future for the children of Uva.

In 2009, the percentage of students who passed Year Five Scholarship Examination was 9.21 percent. This percentage was brought closer to the national level of 10.5 percent in 2013. The percentage of 44 percent of students who passed the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination in 2008 has been brought up to 64 percent in 2013. The Uva province has secured second place among the provinces which have shown the highest percentage of passing the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination.

There were various shortcomings when IT was channeled to the Uva province. I invited leading IT sector institutions in Sri Lanka to provide necessary guidelines to me to bring the IT sector in the Uva province to the next stage. This immensely helped me to develop the IT sector in the province during the past five years.

Q: What are your views about the granting of land and police powers to Provincial Councils? Is there an actual need to do so?

A: I don't think there is such a need. Whatever powers that are given right now are also not being implemented properly in some Provincial Councils. I think it is unnecessary.

Q: Do you think the Provincial Councils should be further strengthened and if so what are your proposals?

A: I think it should be strengthened further. The Provincial Council structure should be strengthened to provide a better service to the people to develop that province.

Q: The UNP and the JVP have said that you are not coming for open public debates. Is there any reason?

A: If I go for a debate, with whom am I to debate? I would not come for an open debate with anybody. Looking at past discussions attended by Opposition politicians, they don't utter even a single word of what they are going to do for the the people of Uva other than slinging mad at the Government? I never insult or sling mud at anybody.

I try my level best to safeguard my principles. Instead of coming to debates and having verbal blows with Opposition members, I think it is appropriate to tell the people what I have done during the past five years and what I am going to do within the next five years. If the people think what I have done for them over the past five years is wrong, they will give me a reply on September 20.

This is an election conducted in the Uva province. If I say something to the people of Uva without fulfilling that pledge, then I am cheating them. The people are anxiously waiting to listen to what I am going to do within the next five years. I would explain my future plans to the people of Uva.

Q: The Provincial Council is the springboard to national politics. Since the Rajapaksa's have represented Parliament for decades you will not be an exception to this practice. Your views?

A: In the Provincial Council, I have done a great deal of development work in the interest of the people of Uva. So I am glad to continue with this. Ultimately whether you are in Pradeshiya Sabha, Provincial Council or Parliament, it doesn't matter to the people. What they ask is what they want! I am delivering what they really need.