'I will not apologise to Ranil' - Mahinda Wijesekara

I will not apologise to the UNP leaderRanil Wickremesinghe because I have not breached party discipline to seek reforms. Even if I am taken back, I will continue to seek reforms, UNP MP Mahinda Wijesekara observed. In an interview with the Sunday Observer staffer Jayantha Sri Nissanka, he urged the UNP leader to take action against persons who are responsible for the UNP defeat at the last Presidential Election and Local Polls.

Q: Your court case against UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was dismissed. How do you plan your political future now?

A: Though my case was thrown out, I have enough points to appeal. After that many asked me to talk to Ranil, but I did not talk to him because I have not done any wrong to the party. When the leader says that my services are not required, why should I talk to him. Asking reforms for the UNP is not a violation of party rules. Thereafter, Ranil sent messages through S. B. Dissanayake, G. L. Pieris, Rajitha, Ravi and M. H. Mohamed to meet him. So, I met him and explained that the party was losing every election since 1994 and we need urgent reforms to win future elections. I told him that I have nothing personal against him. I also told him, if you think that I am a useless fellow and a saboteur, not to take me back. Even if you take me back I will continue my struggle for reforms, I said. Recently Ven. Sobitha Thera also spoke to me. I did not want to appeal because the leader is going to take me back.

Q: Some members in the party want you to apologise and settle your problems with Wickremesinghe. Why can't you come to a compromise with your leader?

A: I will never apologise because I have not breached party discipline. I have not personally accused Ranil. I voiced for the betterment of the party. If politicians and journalists cannot face criticism, they are not fit to be in that profession. The Leader accused me that as a result of my statements, the UNP lost many votes at the last Local Government election. But I told him that because of my statements I was able to keep our supporters in our fold. Otherwise, they would have joined the UPFA. The party and the country need me. I am not prepared to go to other parties because I was in all major parties. However, the UNP working Committee did not approve my removal. It's a great victory for me. I don't mind if the party does not take me back. Without reforms we will continue to be in the opposition.

Q: Ranil wanted to have a discussion with you after the court dismissed your case. Was it a plan to stop you from appealing?

A: I thought the same. I fight for justice. Members in the Political Affairs Committee urged the leader to take me back. I will not stop my quest for reforms. When we go to our electorates, people ask about reforms. When I don't answer, my image is tarnished. Many members are with me today to support my struggle. If the party takes me back I should be made the leader in the South. I was the leader at the last election. I am more senior to Hemakumara Nanayakkara, Vajira Abeywardane and Sajith Prmadasa in politics.

Q: You are one of the few UNPers who fearlessly express views. But don't you think that some people used you for their benefit? But finally they left you in the lurch in fear of the leadership?

A: The Government we formed in 2001 lasted two years. Ranil could have saved that Government. Even Chandrika Bandaranaike was ready to give back some of the Ministries she took over. But we overestimated ourselves. We thought that people will vote for us because of the good economic management and the Ceasefire Agreement we signed. But since we did not address the issues concerning the poor masses like the cost of living, unemployment, problem of farmers, salaries, trade unions, etc, we lost the election. Thereafter, we tried to bring Karu Jayasuriya to the leadership but he did not respond positively. I proposed to give a senior leadership post to Ranil and make Karu the leader. Ranil even agreed to take that post while having discussion with Ravi and Rajitha in Bangkok.

If the leadership is ready for reforms, I can arrive at a compromise. Now there is no team work. We need to bring leaders from various organisations to our party and give them positions. We should stop appointing persons who are close to the party leader. We can't win if we appoint persons who are just loyal friends of the leader. Some of our members are waiting to grab power when this government collapse. It's a dream. This Government will not collapse. We were accused of a Tiger and Elephant pact, Regaining Sri Lanka and Ceasefire Agreement. We need to debate this and explain issues to the people. We must stress that the UNP is a poor man party and not a party of capitalists. Youth think that our party gives only jobs in factories but not in Government service. The UPFA gave 42,000 jobs. We were told there are no vacancies when we wanted to give jobs. We could have given these jobs and won the hearts of youth.

Q: Your leader is a good crisis management man. Still he is not prepared to share his powers. Will you finally lose your political career if you continue to press for reforms?

A: He can manage the crisis but he will remain in the opposition forever, unless he implements reforms. Even if I am not in the Political Affairs Committee, other members are struggling for reforms. I am happy about it. The majority in the party have agreed to decentralise power. Even after we joined, still the UNP could not grab power. Who are the leaders in this party other than us? Persons who have gone to Royal College cannot bring the party back to power. We don't need a dictator in the party. I am one of the nine members who came to the UNP giving up Ministerial portfolios. But today I have been sidelined.

Q: Why is the UNP still not concerned about national issues. The best example is withdrawing support for the 18th Amendment. Is the UNP playing politics with national issues?

A: There were some problems with regard to the appointment of members to the Constitutional Council. That is why President Mahinda Rajapaksa should call the Opposition leader and solve such problems.

Q: Did your leader agree to take you back giving all the posts?

A: He told me, Mahinda you have done a good service to the party. I have been asked to take disciplinary action against you by appointing a committee but I did the least; He hinted that he will take me back. Hemakumara had proposed that I should be taken after obtaining a letter of apology. I will not give any apology because I have not breached party discipline. I can give a letter expressing my regret but certainly not an apology. If reforms are not implemented it is no point being in this party.

Q: One of your members Susantha Punchinilame joined Government ranks. Are there more to follow suit?

A: Of course many more are to go, according to information. Many members are fed up of being in the Opposition over a decade. They know that there is no strategy to win even future elections. That is why they leave the party. It is not a surprise. But Punchinilame comes from a hardcore UNP back- ground. He lost his wealth and was also in jail. He has problems with the JVP. Despite all these things, just imagine why such a person joined the Government. Our supporters are even pressurising us to leave the party and join the Government. People in villages know that we will never win and they cannot get any development work done.

Q: But why is that some young MPs still like to be in Opposition while supporting the leader?

A: Young MPs like it because when seniors leave the party they can rise to positions. But if reforms are not introduced soon the party will be in jeopardy. Young MPs who are bootlicking the leader should realise this. We must immediately call the party Annual sessions to introduce reforms.

Q: Why is the party not taking action against persons who are responsible for the defeat at the last Presidential election?

A: This is one of the reasons I am really fed up. Ranil is very lenient to certain persons in the party and they enjoy special privileges. I was accused of reducing votes at the local polls. But who really defeated the party at the last Presidential election. Statements made by Milinda and Navin led the LTTE to ban voting. Even Sajith's statement about the abolition of Samurdhi under a UNP Government also affected votes.

Before the Tokyo summit another meeting was organised in America. The LTTE said that they can't go there because they were banned. This is a trap to prevent LTTE participation. Milinda said that with America and India's support the LTTE will be crushed. He even said that the LTTE was divided by Ranil. That is why we lost votes of the Tamil people. No action was taken against him but Ranil is accusing me of reducing votes at the local polls.

Q: Despite all these accusations why hasn't your leader still not taken any disciplinary action against Milinda and Maharoof?

A: Milinda and Maharoof do not have much public backing but only money. Ranil does not want to remove them. The Committee appointed to inquire into the CMC issue finally came in favour of them saying that there was no intentional move to have had nomination papers rejected. This Committee has been formed to clear their names.

If the leadership is thinking that when he needs a discussion in America, Milinda can organise it and when he needs money Maharoof can give it, it is a great mistake. Milinda has made this statement purposely. This statement has been made purposely to get the LTTE to boycott polls. He is not a baby. This proves that he is having another agenda. He is having contacts with Condoleeza Rice. Milinda's statement was not corrected properly because our people thought that we have won. So the leader is not asking apologies from him. The CMC problem was also created by Milinda and Maharoof.

Q: Milinda Moragoda is one of the few who is eying the next leadership. Since 1994 your leader is also trying to bring youth to the party. Milinda is one of them. So do you think he is a potential leader?

A: Yes, we need young men who are energetic to win elections. But we need a balance. We need seniors too.

If Milinda contests in our areas he cannot get even five votes. Still I can muster lakhs of votes. Still S.B, Rajitha and myself can work with University students. If Milinda comes to our areas he will be jeered and chased out. There are many in the party who are better than Milinda for future leadership. Who the hell is he? Sajith, Navin, Vajira and even Hemakumara are potential future leaders but certainly not Milinda.