‘People in Batticaloa rally round President’

By Ranil Wijayapala

Deshamanya Mangala C. Senerath, who was instrumental in reviving the Valachchenai paper mill has been able to work closely with the people in the Batticaloa district after being appointed the competent authority of the National Paper Corporation Ltd(NCPL) in 2012. The close interaction he had maintained with the people in the Batticaloa district and the political hierarchy in the district while serving at the Valachchenai paper mill has resulted in his appointment as UPFA coordinating agent for the Batticaloa district by the UPFA election headquarters.

Here, Senerath shares his views with the Sunday Observer about the Presidential election campaign in the politically and ethnically sensitive Batticaloa district.

Q: As the competent authority of the National Paper Corporation you were able to work closely with the people of Batticaloa. What kind of service could you do for the people in Batticaloa?

A:There is no better help than re-starting their Jewel to the Region, “Valachchenai Paper Mills” which was proved above 3,200 employment to the area in 1980s. From the date I assumed duties in 2012 to the NPCL, I have contributed to the Batticaloa people by providing employment to them in many ways.

When I interacted with the people in this rural region, I became close to them by listening to their grievances, their opinions and suggestions to develop the area, and I was capable to bridge them to the relevant political and administrative authorities to receive answers to their issues. Naturally I loved to live with this rural community who do have utmost values in their livelihoods.

I have my own program to help them in my best capacity especially to school children and to youth to find employment. People in my area are pleased to interact with me always for their needs.

Q: Can you explain your efforts to revive the paper industry in Valachchenai paper mill?

A: When I assumed duties at NPCL in 2012, the entire paper production was in a shambles due to faults with the plant and unpaid salaries and other expenses.

However I managed to pay the arrears including salaries to the staff and get them involved in the production process.

Accordingly, now I was capable to increase the monthly production up to 350 MT after making essential minor repairs to one machine.

I was able to complete repairs of the Boiler to cater in optimal levels of two machines available. But there is a huge mafia against raw material supply to the NPCL, yet to be resolved. That is, people who captured the waste paper collection monopoly with the start of the internal conflict still continues with their powers grabbing major collection from all over the country.

But after my efforts with the relevant authorities, I have managed to streamline the raw material supply for the present requirement.

Further steps are needed to fulfill raw material supply for 2000MT production. We are planning after re-structuring program to the Mills with funding assistance from the Government by 2015.

Q: How successful is your bid to revive the Valachchenai paper mill?

A: My first main objective is to keep Mills and its employees active till we are able to find a major capital investment of Rs. 440 million.

Accordingly I was capable to run the mills during my tenure with an acceptable growth to the production.

This was done without any major renovation to the plant except to the boiler. At the same time I was able to manage huge liabilities to the stakeholders without interrupting the production process or employment payments.

As a products diversification strategy we moved to produce Exercise Books and Photo Copy Papers to the market. We are very successful in this area and now we are gradually moving to smooth cash flow. However, our main objective is to turn our Mills to its golden era targeting 2000MT per month and offer minimum 500 employments to the area as its first step. We will renovate whole premises includes two VOITH machines which is having "life time warranty" and mills surrounding area as a Paper Town.

The President already recognises the value in this national asset and given instructions to the relevant authorities to go with renovation.

After this renovation we will be able to produce 15 percent of domestic paper requirement from this plant. Accordingly we will be capable to save huge foreign exchange to the country. Reviving this plant will increase domestic paper production, hence this is a giant paper recycling plant in south Asia. We will conserve our environment with the growth of production.

Q: Now President Mahinda Rajapaksa is contesting for the third term of Executive Presidency. His main rival is former SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena. How does this situation reflect in the Batticaloa district?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a saviour of Batticaloa community as well as their economy and the culture.

After eradicating terrorism we have a good road network and fisheries harbours as well as all area has electricity and access to clean water. Most of the houses damaged during the conflict have been renovated and most of agricultural lands are cultivated. Batticaloa's people mainly depend on agriculture, fisheries and small milking farms.

Hence, the district is mainly producing primary goods to the economy.

Their basic needs differ from other developed parts of the country.

Most of basic livelihood requirements including right to live are addressed by the President within his tenure and as I can see most people are pleased with him and happy to select him again as the President irrespective of their party deviations. Maithripala is an "Alien" to the Muslim and Tamil rural communities.

Hence he will fail to collect votes from them. Direct or indirect ethnic party support will not work firmly with him.

Q: Batticaloa district is both an ethnic sensitive and politically sensitive district. So how is the SLFP and UPFA trying to get the support of mainly Tamil and Muslim communities in the district towards the victory of the President?

A: LTTE clutches are now removed from the district. Now people are free to act and to vote freely as they wish.

But still some ethnic party leaders are using language barriers and ethnic deviations to grab innocent people's votes as they want. When we talk with the people we can see a big difference of real community opinions and some of their leader's opinions. However, most people realised the value of the President's contribution to their region and to the culture and their future.

The President and our party UPFA is a real combination of all communities in the region as well as the country. Therefore, we do not have a challenge from the opposition to take majority votes from the entire region as done at Kalkuda electorate in 2012.

Q: How do you measure the possibility of securing the victory of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa under a situation where both main Tamil political parties and Muslim political parties have not clearly stated their stance so far?

A: We are on the ground. We know how people are voting.

I have interacted with the Tamil and Muslim community for the past 15 years. This time is not like past presidential elections.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proved his capabilities to lead the entire Sri Lankan Nation to the future. People in our region experience it first-hand.

Therefore they do not need to check with another person or an ethnic base party. A great victory for President Rajapaksa is imminent and it's only a matter of time.

Q: It is patently clear that it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who gave leadership to liberate the people of the Batticaloa district from the clutches of the LTTE terrorism. How will this factor be reflected in the forthcoming Presidential election, given the fact that Batticaloa people voted against President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2010 Presidential election?

A: A war against terrorism ended in May 2009 and election was held on 2010, before much rehabilitation was done to the area as now. In 2010 Ethnic groups took maximum advantage of the conflict. But now most people realise the truth.

They enjoy real dividends of peace. They are eye-witness to how they can live happily with the other communities as well.

Therefore, misleading people based on the ethnicity will not go far. By developing North and East the President proved he is for an entire nation, not for a selective ethnic group or region.

That is why we can see a gradual increase (up to 31.17) of votes to our party in 2012. We expect this will break 51% line this time with a great popularity of our National Leader.

Q: The Common Opposition is talking of more cross-overs from the government to support Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena. What is your opinion on these predictions, specially referring to the Batticaloa district?

A: We were ahead of election in selecting the President who will be the leader our country till 2020.

Looking at the people who crossed-over from our party to the opposition, their total votes taken in the last election was below 75,000 votes.

Even Maithripala Sirisena last time counted only 90,118. Most UNPers will take a left turn or refrain from voting, because most of them are fed up with this coalition.

People have already realised there is a hidden agenda with this group.

Especially Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's involvement with them is favourable to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This situation will apply to the Batticaloa district too.

Q: What is your overall opinion about the Presidential election?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa will win the third term with a huge vote gap to his main opponent Maithripala Sirisena.