Political stability brings confidence to economy -Minister Dinesh Gunawardena

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said Budget 2015 came as a shock to the Opposition. How can they argue about hings where the people are going to benefit? Therefore, the Opposition resorts to other avenues of mud-slinging speeches and derails the Budget debate. That is their purpose. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the Budget debate should have some degree of seriousness and the main issues should be debated upon.

Minister Gunawardena said the Budget has addressed every segment of society and provisions have been made to meet the requests. The Budget has redressed economic growth and working people's grievances and brought confidence to them. The Opposition has not said anything new on the Budget. They always made the same comment over the past few years when Budgets were presented.

The Government has been proved correct because of economic stability, political stability and the immense amount of development work in all corners of the country testifying to the fact that the Opposition or anyone can play with numbers, but the reality is the result across the board.

The Minister said the Opposition has continuously failed in the last 27 elections. They will make statements and have no common, serious understanding in their approach. Neither do they have any consistent formula.

The people now are politically educated. They know how each issue was raised and forgotten by the Opposition during the last few years.

As far as the Government is concerned, it has been consistent in pursuing its policies. It is clear that the Opposition will face the same debacle that they faced before.

Q: How do you explain the Budget 2015 as being a development-oriented collective effort by the Government?

A: The tenth Budget presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a continuation of a program that he has begun especially during the last five years after bringing political stability to the country by defeating terrorism and separatism.

Political stability has brought confidence in the economy and is stable during the last few years. It is clear that this is shows by an economic growth of 7.2 to 7.5 percent. The President's goal of making Sri Lanka a 'wonder of Asia' , in the sense that necessary instruments are well fortified in the Budget.

Q: It is generally agreed that the Budget has given relief to all segments of society, though the Opposition has said that it is only a twist of statistics. Could you explain this?

A: The Opposition has not said anything new on the Budget. They always made the same comment over the past few years after the Budgets were presented.

But the Government has proved to be correct because of the economic stability, political stability and the immense amount of development work taking place in all corners of the country testifying to the fact that the Opposition or anyone can play with numbers, but the reality is the result that has been shown across the board.

This time, every segment of society has been addressed and made provisions to meet those requests. This expands from the elderly, working class, youth right down to the private sector, business class, entrepreneurs , self-employed people, women and children as well. The Budget has really shocked the Opposition.

Q: The relief given to the people especially to public servants and pensioners is an attempt by the Government to pass the long-awaited peace dividends to the people. Your comments?

A: It is a long-awaited demand which had been created by anomalies in the circulars. I think the underlying principle is that when economic growth takes place, there are sections of society which needs redress because the phase of development has led after peace was restored.

Therefore, those sections and their issues have been presented and recognised by giving necessary solutions. The best example would be the pensioners problem which was lagging behind for some years.

The Budget has given them relief and placed their salaries on the proposed 2015 salary structure. Similarly, Government servants pay rights have been granted bringing more money into their monthly pay packet.

A two percent increase has been made in their EPF. In addition, those insecure in their employment and completed 180 days in their service have been made permanent.

These are major contributions to the working people. These benefits have also been extended to the private sector. Therefore, economic growth as well as the working people's grievances have been redressed.

Q: Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has commented about the lack of quorum in Parliament. As the Chief Government Whip, what are your plans to ensure the Ministers and Government MPs are present during important transactions?

A: Of course the Government and the Opposition agreed on the time of debate and on the dates. Specially on the request of the Opposition, we extended the number of days of the Budget debate. It is surprising that members don't attend Parliament or are not present when they are listed to speak.

Because both Government and Opposition members are informed in advance and they are bound to speak. When Parliament discusses the Budget and important bills, it should be taken seriously by all members. This is what I could say. Because the responsibility of Parliament specially passing legislation and the control of finance should be understood clearly. Because this is the link between the people and Parliament.

Q: The Government expects constructive criticism at the Budget debate rather than mud slinging or making personal attacks on parliamentarians. Would you like to add your views?

A: As I mentioned before, the Budget came as a shock to the Opposition. How can they argue about something where the people are going to benefit? So they resort to other avenues of mud-slinging speeches and derail the debate.

This is their sole purpose. But I must say that the Budget debate should have a degree of seriousness and main issues should be debated.

Q: The support of the constituent parties to the Government appears to be conditional according to demands being granted by the Government. Would you like to elaborate on this?

A: This UPFA Government consists of 15 political parties of which 10 are represented in Parliament. It has those who support socialism, liberalism, local issues and patriotic national parties.

The SLFP formed this alliance in collaboration with all these parties. It can't have one way of thinking, as each party has its own program and political ideologies. But they realise that to achieve certain common programs agreed upon that is very clear and solid.

All are united under the leadership of the President having agreed on common issues and programs for the UPFA. But each party will have its own program which is accepted in an alliance or a front.

Q: What are your views about the proposed 19th amendment to the Constitution?

A:Amendments can only be brought with a success story by the Government. I don't think any political proposal for popularity will hold ground. But issues have to be discussed, agreed and addressed on many fronts. That is the correct approach, not the approach that some members of the Opposition have selected.

The thing is that they have never practiced what they preached. Even though they are the creators of the present Constitution. If they say these things are wrong, let us see who created them. They are the people who created all these problems and today they say it should be changed. Change definitely has taken place after extensive discussions and exchange of views and it will continue to take place. That is how we have approached the issue.

Q: The Executive Presidency could be described as important for developing economies in making quick decisions especially in national security, territorial integrity and so on. Your comments?

A: Of course things have changed in the world where power allies whether it is in Parliament or divided within Parliament and the presidency so that various forms are there. Definitely, the Executive Presidency can make quick decisions. But in a democracy and a Communist state, there is a difference. Communist states have a one party state.

In a democracy, there are many parties. So the process is slow and we have to find ways of incorporating processes that could strengthen democracy as well as fast track. That is needed in a fast developing economy and fast changing world. Because our country cannot forget that we had 30 long years of terrorism which was finally defeated. These lessons are important to safeguard independence, sovereignty and unitary state.

Q: Do you personally think the Opposition could field a suitable Presidential Candidate to match the incumbent President?

A: The Opposition has continuously failed in the last 27 elections that were held.They will make statements but they have no common approach. Neither do they have any common formula which is consistent.

The people are politically educated. They know how each issue was raised and forgotten by the Opposition during the past few years. The Government has been consistent in pursuing its policies. It is clear that the Opposition will face the same debacle that they faced earlier.

Q: The lifting of the LTTE ban by the EU could be described as the 'cat out of the bag', as Western powers are out to destabilize the country. Do you agree with this?

A: Destabilizing Sri Lanka is in the agenda of the Western world. On and off, the level of influence to pressurized increases. Today the President and the Government have been targeted because we defeated terrorism and separatism which had all necessary indirect support from Western lands. It may not be from all Governments but definitely different groups in those countries who were financing, assisting and fostering these dangerous terrorist movements whether it is for Sri Lanka or any other country.

Q: The TNA has proved that apart from carrying out the diaspora agenda, it is not interested in developing the North at least by using funds allocated by the Government. Could you elaborate?

A: The Government has taken upon itself a tremendous responsibility to restore order in the North and the East, provide services and build infrastructure. The Government has proved that it is committed to give the people who live in Northern areas their due share as citizens of our country. This is a turning point for TNA politics.

The Government held the Northern Provincial Council Election. It was a known fact that the Government would not win and obviously, the strongest opposition, the TNA would win.

The Government knowingly went to the extent of bringing back the democratic process so that they could take responsibility and share with the Government, the task of development.

Sri Lanka's economic growth was about 7 to 8 percent during the last few years. But the economic growth and investment in the Northern province was over 20 percent.

But the TNA is not fully engaging itself to run the administration of the Provincial Council with funds that they have got and are trying to deescalate and play petty politics.

Everyone knows the TNA is a political party which is opposed to the Government having their own stand. But still on certain matters in relation to the country and running the day- to-day activities, they have to cooperate with the Government. They have to take the responsibility for what they have been elected for.

This is an issue where the TNA is in contradiction as to whether they want to develop the North or not, but only keep agitating on hidden agendas.

Q: What is your view about wild-cat strikes resorted to by railway and health workers driving community life into chaos?

A: Strikes are the last measure that trade unions should resort to after negotiations, dialogue and discussion. I as a trade unionist don't condemn trade unions. Because if the authorities are not ready to have a dialogue, exchange views or to sit and talk matters, there will be unnecessary situations like this. Then extreme elements in the trade union movement will always clash. This is an important area which has to be taken into consideration by all those running governments.