Presidential elections of 2005 and 2010 won without SLMC support:

Facilities enjoyed by urban students provided to rural counterparts:

Economic progress due to good governance - President

I will never allow the country to be divided:

I am not greedy for power:

By Dinesh Weerawansa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will seek a fresh mandate for a record third term in office, two years ahead of the end of his second term as the Head of State. In a country which had the bitter experience of postponing elections and cancelling general elections though referendums, President Rajapaksa has set a shining example in restoring democracy and reposing faith in people's power.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday newspapers, President Rajapaksa expressed his views on a wide range of topics. He elaborated on Sri Lanka's progress since he first assumed office in 2005 and countered the Opposition's wild allegations.

Demolishing the Opposition's baseless allegations on corruption, rule of law and human rights, the President said that the internationally accepted world indexes rank Sri Lanka as the No. 1 in Asia in all those fields, apart from economic freedom, ease of development, global competitiveness and prosperity. Sri Lanka has secured the first 10 to 21 ranks in Asia in all these fields.

Excerpts of the interview.

How do you see the progress of your election campaign?

There is no contest at all. There has been overwhelming response from the masses in every place I have visited. I don't see any challenge at all from anyone in the presidential race. But when we come to Colombo after visiting far flung areas in the country we hear a different opinion. But that does not in any way reflect the overall response from the voters across the country.

How do you see the progress the country has made since you became President in November 2005?

I strongly believed in putting a solid foundation to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous country. During the last stages of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's second term, LTTE terrorism was at its peak.

The country's economy was in a near state of collapse with the economic growth descending to minus figures. The biggest threat the country faced then was LTTE terrorism which had destroyed not only the country but also its economy. But the Security Forces defeated terrorism, which had plagued the country for almost three decades, in less than four years.

If we had not managed affairs properly, we would never have been able to win the battle against terrorism. Our next priority was to develop infrastructure facilities. Areas such as electricity, highways, hospitals and education were in a pathetic state. Village students could not study science as a subject as there were no proper facilities in rural areas.

There was only a single school in Hanbantota to study science. We thought that the facilities enjoyed by urban students should be given to their rural counterparts as well.

We constructed 1,000 laboratories all over the country, including the North and the East, thereby enabling rural students to make their mark. We took all meaningful steps that were necessary for the country's development.

What about good governance on which the Opposition is making a big hue and cry?

The present peaceful environment in the country and the economic progress would not have been able possible if there had not been good governance.

Our effort is to maintain this success in the years to come. Those who now shout from the rooftops on good governance never uttered a word when they were in my Cabinet. Those who had supported good governance are still there in the Cabinet.

During the last few years, the most number of the withdrawals of Cabinet Papers were by the Health Ministry. In fact, the Health Ministry was warned thrice for this negligence. Even the Cabinet Secretary had sent a warning letter to the Secretary to the Ministry of Health over this issue.

Can I silence political leaders such as Vasu (Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara), DEW (Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera) and Wimal Weerawansa? And even all other ministers?

Maithripala Sirisena wanted a ten acres of prime land next to the Water's Edge in Sri Jayewardenepura for his brother. One minister strongly objected to that Cabinet Paper and Maithripala had to withdraw it ultimately. This is just one example of the true colours of those who now preach on the good governance.

There have been allegations that your brothers have interfered with Cabinet Ministers' work?

None of my brothers has ever interfered with functions of any of the Cabinet Ministers. If they do that, they will have to go home. Every Cabinet Minister has equal right and responsibility and I have always respected that freedom they have. I think there has been too much of freedom in the Cabinet. I have not interfered in any of their functions and only given my observations.

When Maithripala Sirisena was the Minister, the Health Ministry had given approval for as many as 37 new drugs within 24 hours without following proper procedure. Normally, this procedure takes place about two years as an application to introduce a new drug to the market should be processed carefully after several examinations.

But Mithripala had abused his ministerial powers to bypass all that and give overnight approval for as many as 37 different drugs.

The Opposition alleges that you are building palaces?

I repaired Temple Trees. That is not me personally but as the official residence. We reconstructed ancient buildings such as Old Race Course, Arcade Independence, Old Dutch Hospital to preserve them for the future. Is that you call building palaces? Is that a fault? We restored those state properties.

When I travel outside Colombo, I could well stay in a star hotel spending public funds. But I don't do that prefer to stay in a circuit bungalow. The Presidential Secretariat and the Temple Trees were in a pathetic state when I first assumed duties in 2005.

But with the support of the Security Forces, we renovated them at a cost of only one-third of the estimated sum. The Opposition tries to mislead the public by adding the entire expenditure of all institutions that come under the Presidential Secretariat and dividing it by 365 to state that so many billions of rupees are spent by the President a day. This is absolutely wrong and a disgraceful attempt to mislead the masses.

Institutions such as the Sri Lanka Foundation, the Human Rights Commission, Elections Commissioner's Department and the ICT project too come under the Presidential Secretariat but function as independent bodies. Budgetary allocations to maintain these institutions too are projected as expenditure on the President.

For an example, we spent US $ 53 million on the ICT project to improve IT literacy of the people. But the Opposition adds that too when they calculate the expenditure of the President.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has said that 75 percent of the battle against the LTTE had been accomplished during her tenure as the President and you only had to do the balance as her successor?

Should we reply to those jokes? Well, the masses are well and truly aware of what we have delivered. How we have helped the Security Forces to battle against terrorism. The LTTE was in a strong position during the latter stages of her tenure. People of this country are well aware of how we fought the battle to liberate people in the humanitarian operation and to usher in peace finally.

Do you intend to introduce political reforms?

There is no point in bringing in my own political reforms. The reforms that are best for the country should be decided by all political parties, not just by me or the political party which I represent. If we are to introduce a new Constitution, it should be done through the Parliament.

All political parties represented in the Parliament should have a dialogue. The Opposition should also make a tangible contribution and extend their support.

The best place to initiate that is the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and make its recommendations based on the views expressed by its members and all political parties. But the Opposition did not support that and did not take part in the PSC meetings.

Why did the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) quit the Government and extended its support to the New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Maithripala Sirisena?

The SLMC wanted a separate administrative unit for the Muslims in the East. But there are people belonging to other ethnic groups in that area. We flatly rejected it. We don't want to divide the country on ethnicity. That is not our policy. The SLMC did not support me at the 2005 and 2010 Presidential elections. Yet, I won both of them, even with a convincing margin at the last Presidential election.

Why don't you give guidelines to State media?

Why only State media? We have only two state television channels where as there are many privately-owned TV channels in the country. How many of them are independent?

The Commissioner of Elections has given guidelines to all media institutions. I can't give such instructions as a candidate.

How many newspapers highlighted the huge sum of foreign currency discovered from Maithripala's intended daughter-in-law's residence? If that had been from a Rajapaksa, the so-called independent media would have gone to town.

What happened to the national drug policy the Health Minister was entrusted to introduce? We don't know whether there is any connection to that.

Why did Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka quit the Government?

I don't know that. You have to ask from him. Only Champika and Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera had left. The majority of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) members in Provincial Councils and Local Government bodies are with us under Udaya Gammanpila.

What about the 'files' you had mentioned earlier?

As I have clarified before, I was referring to a different set of files. I don't have anybody's files.

If we are to initiate an investigation, there should be official complaints. We can't take notice of anonymous calls.

The Opposition levels various baseless allegations to discredit the Government. Earlier they projected Dhammika Perera's residence as that of Namal Rajapaksa and the new House of Fashion building as that of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. But the truth has now been uncovered.

When I took over, the country's IT literacy rate was a mere three percent. Now, it has gone beyond 60 percent and even 80 to 90 percent among the youth. But some of them misuse that to spread rumours and concocted stories.

Another serious allegation that the Opposition levels is financial irregularities in mega development projects such as highways?

They don't know the difference between a road and a highway. When we were acquiring land to build highways, there had been 46 court cases by people who objected to it. They were not ready to vacate their lands on compensation determined though Government valuations. We decided to pay them the market value for the properties that were taken over for the highway projects.

They were more than happy to vacate their premises to pave way for the expressways. All of them left willingly as they were adequately compensated. Expenses calculated on highways include the compensation paid on current market rates.

We just can't offer tenders to those projects. There are set guidelines. The service of a Government technical officer is obtained even when constructing or developing a village road. Likewise, there are set guidelines for those mega projects.

Even UNP national organiser Daya Gamage's firm was given some of those tenders.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) too has extended its support to Maithripala Sirisena's candidature. How do you see that?

That is not a surprise at all. That was expected. The UPFA polled around 46,000 votes from the North at the last election. But we expect more this time around.

The Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph has preferred Maithripala Sirisena ahead of you. What would be his expectation that could not be fulfilled under your administration?

Dividing the country! I will never ever allow anyone to divide the country on ethnic or other affiliations. We will protect the hard-earned peace.

Have you lost some of the artists who had supported you during the last two Presidential elections?

No, we have hardly lost anyone. People such as Upul Shantha Sannnasgala and Ranjan Ramanayake had never been with us. But the majority of popular artists such as Ravindra Randeniya are still with us.

There were reports that some of the young artists supporting the Opposition have been assaulted and I have instructed the police to investigate and take necessary action. If that had happened, we condemn such acts.

Another topic at the Opposition's platform is good governance, alleging that you have not taken action to discipline politicians?

That is incorrect. The UNP has never taken any action against their misbehaving politicians in the country's political history. How many were killed at the Anamaduwa by-election by the UNP thugs. In contrast, we have taken action even against sons of ministers when they had misbehaved.

The Opposition would baptise even Government politicians against whom they level various allegations, as saints when they join the Opposition. If one wants to become a saint, the best way is to join the Opposition!

Do you expect TNA's support to find a solution to problems faced by Tamils?

The TNA has never been sincere and interested in finding a solution. They want the US or other Western country to find a solution for them. They expect a solution to come from Geneva! I could give a solution but they won't agree to that. Hence, they must come and discuss a solution within an undivided Sri Lanka. The Parliament is the best place. We can't give a solution in a day or two for a problem which had affected the country for decades.

What happened when an instant solution was forced on the nation under the 13th Amendment while keeping even the Parliament in the dark? Should I repeat that mistake?

What would be the position of the defectors? Will those who had left the UPFA be taken back if their support is needed to form a government after your victory and the general election to follow?

No, we won't entertain them again. We don't need a two-thirds majority to form a government. A simple majority would do. Former President Chandrika survived with the majority of a solitary vote in 1994.

But if the Opposition wants Constitutional changes, they could extend their support to get the two-thirds majority needed and introduce a new Constitution.

I am not greedy for power. That is precisely why I opted for go before the people to get a fresh mandate when I could have continued for two more years in office.

But when former President Chandrika even offered self-governing body (PTOMs) to the LTTE after the 2004 tsunami devestation, Maithripala had said that PTOMs was more important than the Government.

The UPFA polled a comparatively lesser number of votes at the last Northern Provincial Council elections. What could have been the reason? Do you expect a better response this time?

Although we have been developing the North and the East, we have not indulged in politics in those two provinces.

It is too early to predict anything. But just because the TNA tells something, the people in the North would not endorse that. We are gradually winning the hearts and minds of people to whom Prabhakaran had portrayed us as enemies.

When I first visited the North after the dawn of peace, the response was not that attractive. But when I went there for the second and third times, I saw a far more increased response from the Tamils in the North and the East.

When I went to the North the last time by the Yal Devi train, there had been an overwhelming response. The LTTE had brainwashed these people who are now experiencing the truth. They now realise that we are genuine and sincere.

The Opposition has been levelling allegations on corruption. They also claim that there is no law and order. What have you to say?

It is better for you to refer to the internationally accepted indexes on these. I am proud to say that in seven globally accepted index rankings, Sri Lanka has been placed No. 1 in South Asia and within the first 10 to 21 in Asia. This alone speaks volumes for our efforts to introduce good governance and check corruption.

The Opposition levels wild allegations to gain cheap political mileage but the No. 1 slot we enjoy in South Asia is testimony to it.

Sri Lanka has secured the top slot among South Asian countries in the Rule of Law Index (World Justice Project - tenth in Asia), Corruption Perceptions Index 2014 (World Justice Project - 14th in Asia), Index of Economic Freedom 2014 (Heritage Foundation and The World Street Journal - 15th in Asia), Global Prosperity Index 2014 (The Legatum Institute - 15th in Asia), Human Development Index (UNDP - tenth in Asia), Global Competitiveness Index 2014 (World Economic Forum - 17th in South Asia) and Ease of Development Index 2015 (The World Bank - 21st in Asia). This alone is ample testimony of our progress.