Uva poll:

The UNP is now united

The Uva Provincial Council election will be a forum to effect a change, said UNP's Badulla team leader Ravindra Samaraweera in an interview with our sister paper, Silumina recently.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: What are your views on the Uva Provincial Council election?

A: By now we have felt the pulse of the Uva voters. We are sure of our victory. The government has found it difficult to enlist the support of the people for its election campaign.

Q: Has not the government proved that the people are with it as borne out by their successive victories?

A: The government had held elections on a staggered basis and tries to rob the public opinion by making use of the resources, officials and property. If ever the government holds an election, we will win. We believe the majority of the people are with us.

Q: The government says that they will win the election on September 20 and dismisses any set backs as alleged by the opposition?

A: I am asking whether elections could be won without getting the people in the villages. The government had found the situation not favourable to them.

Right from the start the people were rallying round us. Here the people won't say the government will win. Their problems have aggravated.

Q: In all other Provincial Council elections, the government secured victory despite the UNPs self-confidence that it would win?

A: This election will be the beginning of a turning point, we believe. Our victory at this election will be the stepping stone to defeat the government. We will win both Badulla are Moneragala. The government cannot go against public opinion.

Q: This is the most powerful government in history. You have to accept the fact that the opposition cannot win any Provincial Council so long as this government is in power?

A: Though the government says so, the people in Uva have decided to change the PC administration.

Provincial Councils were created by our party to resolve people's problem, and those in the area. Contrary to this the previous PC administration used the opportunity to resolve the problems of families.

The people know more than any body else about an administration which turned a blind eye to people's problem and robbed public funds.

People are fed up with their administration. That we could see when the people cast their vote on September 20th. People should vote for the government to resolve what problems? Are they going to solve people's problems, when they failed to act during the past 20 years. In 1993 with its defeat at the Southern Provincial Council, the UNP Government too was brought down.

In the same manner, we will win the Uva election and launch a campaign to defeat this government. Uva will be made historic with its first step towards defeating this government.

Q: Do you say the people have failed to appreciate the tremendous volume of work completed by the government?

A: Yes, We too ask what has the government done? It is true that roads have been constructed.

We are not against constructing roads, but we don't condone inaction on implementing ways and means of improving people's lives.

Development does not mean mere by constructing roads. The government has failed to identify the priorities in economic development to enhance the people's quality of lives.

The need of the hour is to improve the nutritional needs of thousands of people living in rural and urban areas. Malnutrition is rampant. Roads are made and commission is earned. There is poverty in Uva as people's needs have not been fulfilled. We want to create an economy by which jobs and houses could be provided to the people.

Q: The unemployment problem including that of the graduates has been solved?

A: Actually this government has not set up any production facility or factory anew.

The graduates posted to Divisional Secretariats on an allowance do not have a seat to work or a duty to perform.

Q: What have you got to say about what the previous PC administration did to develop the province?

A: They did not do any work. People's petitions are accepted by calling them over the public address system. How was it when the situation when Percy Samaraweera was the Chief Minister.

He received 51,000 votes though he was dead. True, he was my uncle who always mingled with the people.

Q: How could the UNP win when it cannot get their two or three leaders to be present together at one forum, there is no unity but infighting.

A: Though the media cannot observe, the UNP is since united. Ranil, Karu, Sajith, Ravi and Mangala are on the same platform. There is no unity in the government. There is a talk here that the government wants to postpone the election as it cannot win.

Q: The Elections Commissioner has already said that there is no need to postpone the elections?

A: The talk here is that the election will be postponed, or held on two different days - first the Moneragala and Badulla next.Attempts are made to create unrest to give effect to this plan. We will hold the election and see how it is.

Q: Don't you see the UNP's vote-base has divided by 25 percent as borne out by the votes cast at the polls?

A: Today the UNP is united as a party. We want to bring more and more voters to the polling station. If the number reaches over 60 percent, we are ok.

People are so enthusiastic that they feel this election as a general election. - Not a provincial poll. People have faced difficulties due to the drought - even without a drop of water. We tell these people to cast their vote early in the morning on September 20. The number of people who did not vote so far increased. They are UNP voters. The police should ensure these voters are protected from saboteurs.

Q: You are the Badulla UNP team leader. How is it that your chief ministerial candidate was not appointed the team leader?

A: This is a problem only for the government. Harin Fernando sacrificed his parliamentary seat to contest the UVA polls.

There are no problems among us but we all work in unison. We have clearly understood our responsibilities in the respective roles we are called upon to play. We muster the support of all in pursuit of victory. This time most of those who voted for the government will vote for the UNP. Therefore, we are optimistic that we could effect the change we anticipated. We will set up the Uva mini UNP government on our journey to install a UNP government in the country.

Translated by K.D.M. Kittanpahuwa