UPFA mandate to develop country - Champika Ranawaka

by Manjula FERNANDO

Patali Champika Ranawaka, Environment Minister and a senior member and policy maker of Jathika Hela Urumaya says the UNP must change its dictatorial leadership and neo-liberal economic principles to win future elections.

He said the TNA's inefficiency and past track record of non-delivery has been rejected by the Tamil people.

Ranawaka who contested the elections from Colombo district was re-elected to Parliament with over 120,000 votes. He secured the third place in the UPFA preferential list, after Wimal Weerawansa and Duminda Silva.

Q: What is your opinion on the outcome of polls?

A: We have to be grateful to the voters who gave us a massive mandate to implement the development program of the Government and be the caretaker of the country for another six years. The people's will to re-elect the government was almost identical in all districts of the country. They have exercised their franchise in a dignified manner. Especially the North East voters have given a clear mandate.

We hope most of the candidates, in future, will follow the path I tread in my polls campaign. I did not waste the national resources and pollute the environment.

Q: TNA has lost its popularity in the North and the East. They secured only 12 seats against the 20 they won in 2004?

A: They have been rejected by the people. The Tamil voters have clearly shown their displeasure over the party. We hope the North and East will soon be brought back to normality and the resettlement of IDPs will be completed shortly after the new parliament is formed

The Muslims who were ejected from North and East by the LTTE must also be allowed to return. Our vote base would have further increased if the Muslims were resettled before the election.

Q: The UNP as usual have complained of election malpractices. UNP General Secretary was quoted in newspapers challenging the poll results?

A: This is their usual song.They have to change their principles and the Leader if they are to win future elections. The UNP must and should steer away from their neo-liberal economic principles.

It is also high time that they change their dictatorial leadership and let the young and capable members to join the party.

Q: Do you think Ranil Wickremesinghe should step down ?

A: Definitely. He is ruining the party as well as this country. He should step down without clinging on to a party that is sinking and let it flourish with new faces.

Q: In your view what were the reasons for the low voter turnout at the election compared to previous polls?

A: It is actually worrying. I believe it is partly because the people were convinced that the UPFA will win. Our victory was already written. Most of the people refrained from voting due to this belief. And also partly because of election fatigue.

There have been many elections during the past three years. People may have been tired of elections.

Nevertheless we managed to secure over 60 percent of votes out of total polled from the 20 districts that the final results have been announced by the Elections Commissioner.

Q: Do you regret your position on the preferential list?

A: No regrets at all. My campaign was not marred by violence or malpractice. We did not waste any resources or polluted the environment. It was a dignified campaign and it has delivered results.