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| Sunday, 21 March 2004 |
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'Only UNF can pave way for bright future'
Representing a rural electorate - Nikaweratiya on the border of the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts in this interview with Sunday Observer he claims to know which way the wind is blowing in far flung electorates. He is confident that the UNF will be returned to power as the voter has no alternative. Excerpts of interview by DEEPAL WARNAKULASURIYA Question: Will you support the abolition of the Executive Presidency? Answer: I don't think so. That is one of the necessary tools to govern and to bring development to the country. The UNF however, doesn't need to use the Executive Presidency (EP) for propaganda as other parties do. Further, the necessity of EP will be decided according to the opportunities for development as well as to usher in peace. Q: How would you assess the performance of the UNF at April 2 polls? A: People in my area have already pledged to ensure a huge victory for the UNF. There was an era, when a UNPer was unable to come out of his home. We changed that situation and showed them the reality. They know that it is only a UNF government that can pave the way for a bright future for their children. They have unfortunate memories of the past created by several parties which now shed tears for democracy and a peaceful society cheating the public for petty political advantages. Q: As a Cabinet Minister representing a rural area do you sense an erosion of support especially after the PA-JVP tie-up? A: Never. The new Alliance showed their maximum strength at a time when we had never thought of an election campaign. The enthusiasm of the people for the Freedom Alliance will be decreasing by the next two weeks with our campaign. The most important issue is that the Alliance is not an alliance. While the SLFP leadership says one thing, the JVP says something else. Do they have a concrete foundation? Do they have a compromised policy on the ethnic conflict or the devolution of power? How are they going to have a national economy reducing imports and increasing import tax? Especially, the business community is doubtful as to how to proceed with their businesses with the Alliance policies. The so-called Alliance is in a dream world. The JVP is still condemned and denounced by the public. They are anyhow not a threat to the UNP and they are not politically strong enough to attack a party like the UNP which has been with the public for over five decades with the same policies. Q: What effect do you think the Prabhakaran/Karuna clash will have on the overall election result? A: How could it be so? The conflict is in the North and East and it would not affect the overall election results very much. But, one thing I must emphasise is in this conflict, the LTTE would not need any intermediaries get to solve their problem. Q: Do you think Bhikku candidates of the JHU will erode a fair slice of your vote bank? A: As I told you, the UNP is a party which has come a long journey with a clear vision. This vision has set us on a right mission. The benefits have been reaped by the general public, not only party members or supporters. Here, I don't want to comment on the Maha Sangha's entry to the political arena, but, almost all the parties formed after the UNP have failed in the game with the UNP. Therefore, I don't think that they would be eroding our vote base. Q: How far were you successful in launching 810 factories under the "Dirigama" project? A:it was a major success. The industrial sector has been confined to Colombo district and suburbs within the last 25 years. I proposed to our leadership to enter into our manifesto in 2000 elections, the regionalization of the BOI and other industries. Our effort was to set up industrial cities covering almost all the districts. We have already set up three industrial cities in Nikaweratiya, Galgamuwa and Uva Paranagama. We showed the country that the industrial sector has a bigger role to play in the development of the country. It has been planned to provide over two lakhs of employment opportunities and at the same time it would ease the lifestyle of employees who travel miles and miles daily to their work places and live in boarding houses. Q: In the UNF `Regaining Sri Lanka' programme is there provision for protectionist policies? A: Who says? It is for a major drive to develop some selected industries and improve the quality of such industries. As some leftist leaders say, we can't oppose the Globalisation process and we have to go with it to win the export market. It was one of the strategic plans of the UNP to develop the country under the guidance of the Prime Minister. Why don't you see it as a policy paper which could bring about necessary changes according to the requirements of the country? It reflects only the UNF's vision of making Sri Lanka the commercial hub in the South Asian region. Q: Duty on imported items which can be produced locally and reduction of duty on raw materials will ensure an upsurge in industrial activity. Your views. A: No. That is not our policy. I have already briefed you as to how we would be guiding the country towards economic upliftment. Q: As industries Minister how far were you successful in rejuvenating industries in Jaffna and Trinco? A: First of all, we recognised the North and East which several parties had completely forgotten as a part of Sri Lanka. We encouraged them to engage in and work for economic upliftment assuring them a peaceful environment. We kept the promise and the people are benefitting from that effort. But, we were not allowed to continue the process with the President's sudden intervention. Q: What is your message to the voters? A: Which party can guide the country in the right path should be decided by the public. If you decide on the SLFP-JVP alliance, that would leave the country at the end of the development road. Today, the one and only alternative to the people is selecting the UNP to govern again. We commenced something and allow us to finish that unfinished service. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Rohitha Bogollagama is Industries Minister in Ranil Wickremesinghe's
government.
