A grateful nation will re-elect President - Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera

Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera who functions as an independent MP in Parliament has decided to extend his fullest support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming Presidential polls. Ven. Dhammaloka Thera in an exclusive interview with Sunday Observer outlined the key reasons which propelled him to extend his support to the President.

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Q: Why did you and the JHU decide to extend support to President?

Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera

A: I am not in the JHU now and act as an independent MP in Parliament. I contested from the JHU and was elected to Parliament. Now I don’t represent any political party. Because one of my promises was that I won’t continuously represent a political party. I have not engaged in any party politics. There are so many Buddhist monks within the JHU who act irrespective of party politics. All those Buddhist monks of the JHU and I as an independent MP have extended fullest support for the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q: What led you to quit the JHU and act as an independent MP ?

A: I never decided to engage in any politics. During the two year regime of Ranil Wickremesinghe, fundamentalists attempted to create various problems in our country to destroy our Buddhist culture. Some Ministers of then UNP Government directly joined hands with those groups. We all are living in this country with harmony.

The late Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera educated us on these conspiracies. Finally Ven. Soma Thera also passed away in a very suspicious manner.

The commission set up to investigate his sudden demise has mentioned that his death had occurred due to medical negligence. When we focused the attention of then Prime Minister and the Government, they turned deaf ear to it.

Ven. Soma Thera also told us there is no use of telling our issues to the rulers without Bhikkus having political power. He stressed the importance of Bhikkus possessing their own political power to raise their issues. Therefore we decided to enter into politics temporarily. We said that was our first and last time in politics. We did it by making a lot of sacrifices.

If I was concerned about myself, I would have never entered politics. Because I very well knew all the elected Governments would help me. We entered politics with honest intentions. Even today I don’t like party politics. But I made an attempt to build up the JHU irrespective of party politics. But most of the JHU MPs did not like it. Therefore I decided to quit the JHU and act as an independent MP.

Q: Certain section of the people criticise Buddhist monks entering politics. How do you view this complaint?

A: I also say this is a wrong move. But the politicians are responsible for this. Bhikkus had to enter to politics as the politicians did not fulfil their duties properly. If the Buddhist Monks were not in Parliament, this Speaker would have not been elected. The intention of then President Chandrika Kumaratunga was to appoint other Speaker and to be in power by making a constitutional change with the help of that Speaker. All such attempts were stopped due to Buddhist monks who were in Parliament. That change made by Buddhist monks in Parliament also helped to end this war against terrorism as well. “I urge Buddhist Monks not to follow the path that we had to follow in the past.

This is not our journey. As Buddhist Monks, we have a pure and clear vision to fulfil. I have no intention whatsoever to contest any election in future. Earlier there was no required environment conducive to full our task as Buddhist Monks. I think once President Rajapaksa is elected, we can fulfil this task with dignity.”

Q: Are you confident that the UPFA would be able to obtain a landslide victory at the General Election and Presidential Election?

A: The UPFA would be able to achieve a landslide victory at the polls. But there are certain shortcomings that have to be overcome. One is that there are some Ministers who don’t fulfil their responsibilities properly and some of them have engaged in various malpractices and crossed over from side to side for their personal gains.

They should be removed or certain action should be taken against them. Otherwise the people won’t elect that kind of corrupt politicians to Parliament next time. I will also express my views to the country on this issue in future.

Q: At the last Presidential Election, you extended your support to Ranil Wickremesinghe. But this time you have decided to extend your support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. What is the reason for this change?

A: At the last Presidential Election, all the country’s Bhikkus and all patriotic people were in one particular front.

Therefore we had a big question on that victory and we knew it would be changed by a mere percentage. If Ranil Wickremesinghe came to power at the last Presidential Election, nobody was in that camp to speak on behalf of the country or act when a decision is taken. Therefore I made a sacrifice at that time without considering about myself.This time I decided to extend my support to President because he could unite this country as we never believed. That was one of the biggest challenges and the most complicated issue in our country. There was a certain period where we could not take our own decisions and our former leaders acted according to the will of various foreign forces. President Rajapaksa could sort out this burning issue of the country by successfully facing to all those challenges.

We have a lot of affection for the President for the manner in which he acted to sort out this problem. Therefore we should extend our gratitude to the President. I think we should unanimously provide the opportunity to President to continue his second term. We wanted to stress the importance of this idea, but we could not do it due to attempts made by some power hungry and invidious elements. Unfortunately we lost that opportunity.

Therefore I decided to extend my fullest support for the victory of the President. The President’s aim is very clear. He pledged the people to bring a honourable peace to the country. Today he has been able to fulfil it. Even when the military operations were conducted, the Government carried out its development drive by constructing a large number of roads, ports, airports, power stations and highways. We can also witness the massive development in the Eastern Province.

Those days we had to face severe difficulties to go even for a bana preaching in those areas. All these obstacles have been removed today. Now we are able to travel from Point Pedro to Point Dondra without any hindrance.The President during his second term has pledged to eliminate corruption and form a democratic ruling system within the country. We are fully confident that the President would fulfil this pledge as well.

The Underworld has declined while the consumption of liquor among the people has been reduced under the “mathata thitha program”. Compared to the past, a massive change has been made within our society. But this cannot be witnessed by a person who is full of hatred. I pity the people who cannot see this reality.

Q: Why do you think General Sarath Fonseka is not suitable for the country’s presidency?

A: There are several reasons for it. General Sarath Fonseka has the right to contest the Presidential Election. But I see there are several shortcomings.

He is ungrateful to the person who helped him to come to that position in a situation where he had to retire within a few days. A lot of problems had arisen because of him. I was told that a lot of people who helped the Government have got angry with it due to the sudden provocation of Sarath Fonseka. I was asked whether I cannot advise this person to get rid off his anger with the help of Buddhism. The President acted on behalf of him with lot of dedication and feeling. Therefore Fonseka has turned against the person who acted on his behalf. Hatred is the motive behind this move.

The group who has rallied round Sarath Fonseka, can they do some fruitful thing to this country ? History has clearly proved that they are a group of people who acted to destroy the national identity of our country in a deceptive manner. Can General Fonseka act with these people ? Some may think this situation would be changed because of the JVP is with Fonseka.

Why couldn’t the JVP correct President Mahinda Rajapaksa or former President Chandrika Kumaratunga? How many MPs were with the JVP those days? If the JVP couldn’t change a female leader like former President Kumaratunga, how can they change a tough person like Sarath Fonseka ?

The decision taken by Sarath Fonseka to contest the Presidential Election is completely wrong and those who support his move are also completely wrong. This would lead to a huge catastrophe.

When I came to know General Fonseka is going to contest to the Presidential Election, I didn’t criticise him or sling mud at him. I personally went to meet him with an elderly Nayaka Thera.

I told him “I came to see you like a son coming to see his father. We conducted Bodhi poojas and always invoked blessings on you. We acted with you with lot of affection. We believe you made a great contribution to end this three decades old war.

Therefore we need to protect you and not to contest this Presidential Election. If you need anything, please let us know.”His motives for contesting the election are very unfair. According to Buddhism these kind of people are called “Chandalaya”.

Q: Do you think Sarath Fonseka and the JVP which support him have been subjected to any international pressure?

A: That is very clear. It was the JVP which raised a huge cry over foreign forces rather than us. It was the JVP which always talked about these international conspiracies.

Today the JVP has been trapped in an international conspiracy. I decided to maintain a neutral position in Parliament during the vote of the 2007 budget.

But the President spoke to me and said a group of MPs were attempting to cross over. At that time, I openly said I would extend my support to pass the budget. But Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe requested me to maintain a neutral position as they were going to get power to govern the country. But I clearly told him I would extend my fullest support for the victory of the Government at this vote.

“This is the first time I disclosed this to the media. Then the Opposition Leader told me that they have built up a close relationship with JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He said that relationship was created through UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake. Therefore Wickremesinghe told me the country can be taken into their hands without any problem. I think that same relationship between the JVP and the UNP led to destroy General Sarath Fonseka as well.

Q: Various views have been expressed that some statements made by the UNP, JVP and the Opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka have tarnished the image of the country. What is your comment?

A: We told this earlier. Before we told this to the country, I told this to Sarath Fonseka. Finally I wrote to some newspapers as he didn’t respond to me. I disclosed through the media that if Sarath Fonseka join with the UNP led opposition alliance, he will expose military secrets.

Then the Government will also have to respond to them. Finally international forces will take advantage. Now General Fonseka is doing that very well. But this is not his own thinking. It is the thinking of Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ravi Karunanayake and Mangala Samaraweera.

They are the people who handle him. But he pretends a different thing to the JVP. He has not withdrawn the statement made by him to a certain weekly English newspaper so far. Otherwise why can’t he take legal action against it? Due to these acts, the country face a great catastrophe. The results can be seen after January next year. Finally we all will have to suffer.

Q: The abolition of the Executive Presidency has become the main slogan of the joint opposition. According to you, is this the major burning issue of the country?

A: This is a foreign conspiracy. Our legislature is very weak. These crossovers are made due to shortcomings of the legislature. Foreign countries want these institutions to collapse. If the executive presidency is abolished, this country will be completely destroyed. Then both the legislature and executive will be weakened.The LTTE didn’t want to assassinate Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The LTTE did it on the request of a foreign power. We could see how India politically collapsed after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. As these foreign forces are unable to destroy our Leader, they attempt to do it in association with other elements. We believe the executive presidency should be subjected to some changes. But there is no use of only changing the executive presidency.

Certain sections of the constitution should also be changed. All these should be made together. But this is not time for it. According to my opinion, our country needs a Benevolent Dictator. If there is no benevolent dictator, our country will be destroyed.

Q: The President has expressed that the Government would provide a solution to the grievances of minority communities. How can you contribute to it?

A: According to my idea, there is no majority or minority community in this country. We should not speak like that. This is Sri Lanka or “Sivu Helaya”. As Sri Lankans, we can live in this country with unity and harmony. I think the way we talk has led to this crisis. This is a mental problem. But it is not a problem originated by us. Foreign countries attempt to put it into the minds of our communities. An extensive dialogue should be conducted in this regard. We are confident that the President would able to govern this country with the help of all communities without causing any discrimination to any community.

Q: What is the responsibility of the voters at this Presidential Election. Who should be elected by them as the country’s President?

A: If there is anyone in this country with sense who has listened to Buddhist preachings and knows how to express gratitude, they should vote to ensure the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q: Do you think majority of the country’s people are still with President and the Government?

A: Of course. The majority of the people are with the Government. It is a tradition the Opposition always opposes the Government. In addition, the JVP and Mangala Samaraweera have also joined the Opposition.

But all these people hate the President and the Government. I think all the people who think of the country are with the President. All the people at the grass roots level are with the President.