Plantation people will support UPFA at PC polls

by P.Krishnaswamy

Muthu Sivalingam, Deputy Minister of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development and President of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC), a TU-based political party that represents a bulk of the plantation community told the "Sunday Observer" in an interview that the ruling UPFA, in which they are allies in the run up to the February 14 PC polls, would achieve a landslide victory to form the administration of the Northwestern and Central Provincial Councils. People of Indian origin the plantations have seen with their own eyes the massive development projects implemented by the UPFA government for their economic and social welfare of the plantation sector people and they would certainly extend their unrestrained and undivided support to the government and its ally, the CWC, which is contesting on the UPFA betel symbol.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: You have expressed confidence of UPFA's landslide victory in the forthcoming PC polls. What reasons would you attribute to the anticipated victory?

A: Votes of the plantation people is certainly the deciding factor as far as the Central PC polls are concerned. The CWC, already well represented in the PC, Ambagamuwa and Nuwara Eliya Pradeshya Sabhas and in parliament, has a strong vote bank. Under the UPFA administration during the last three years had implemented massive development projects, on an unprecedented level, for the economic and social welfare of the plantation community.

These include projects to construct decent dwellings for the plantation workers, power supply to their living quarters, better sanitary and health facilities, enhanced education facilities, offer of employment to the plantation youth in several public sector and construction of roads. 50 IT centres have been started and training programs are being imparted to unemployed youth. The plantation people have already reaped the benefits of several development programmes.

Cabinet approval was given to a 10 year 'National Action Plan (NAP) on an estimated expenditure of about Rs.10 billion per year. Roads in the plantation areas to a total extent of 8000 km, housing projects comprising 200,000 units, power supply encompassing the entire plantation estates, more schools and educational centres and hospitals are envisaged under the NAP. Rs.25 million has already been allocated for initiating the NAP. So I am certain that the people who have seen it all happen will give their unrestrained and undivided mandate to the UPFA in the PC polls.

Q: Your comments about opposition propaganda that people of the plantations are familiar only with the `Elephant Symbol' and would not deviate from their usual pattern of voting?

A: It was the CWC that made UNP popular among the plantation people. That was in the past. Some of the feeble old people in the plantations might think that the CWC is still with the UNP. But a large majority of them know that we are with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and all development programmes for their benefit are implemented by the UPFA. There is political awareness among them. Intellectuals and educated youths among them are guiding them in the right direction.

Q: More than one political party representing the plantation community are contesting the polls in alliance with the UPFA and some clashes between your party and another such ally was reported in Talawakelle recently. Do you not think that this trend will lead to more divisions and disharmony among the community?

A: That was a very isolated incident and I do not see any similar problems during campaigns in the future.

Certain individuals irked by the large gathering that joined the CWC procession that day had deliberately incited such incidents.

Several parties of the plantations joining UPFA alliance does not necessarily mean division but instead unity in the future.

Q: Are your campaigns catching up momentum and what is the response of the people?

A: The CWC is launching its campaigns in a systematic manner. Our party has its district, plantation and regional committees and also members of Pradeshiya Sabhas and Provincial Councils.

Election propaganda campaigns in the Ambagamuwa and Kotmale areas are being led by party leader Minister Arumugam Thondaman while the campaigns in Nuwara Eliya, Walapane and Hanguranketa are being led by me.

We visiting estates and meeting people to explain development programmes being launched by our respective ministries under the `Mahinda Chintanaya' and `Gama Naguma' programmes.

Q: According to recent opinion surveys about one third of the plantation voters do n ot possess national identity cards or other authentic identity documents to exercise their franchise in the PC polls. What have you done to overcome this problem?

A: A considerable percentage of those without national identity cards have been issued with temporary identity cards issued by the Divisional Secretaries through the Grama Niladharis.

The CWC under the direction of Minister Arumugam Thondaman took recourse to all possible measures to reach them and help them to get the temporary documents. But some of them did not show an interest in obtaining them.

But I do not think this will affect the voter turnout at the polls.