Resounding mandate for forward march - Johnston

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Land Development, Human Settlement and Ranaviru Welfare Minister Johnston Fernando has secured 136,943 preferential votes in the Kurunegala district, becoming the top UPFA candidate with the highest number of preferential votes from the district. The Minister says at this General Election, the people have given a resounding mandate to the Government to take the country forward. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the people have also responded immensely to the request made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to form a stable Parliament.

Q:How do you view the resounding victory achieved by the Government at the General Election?

A:This is a victory we all anticipated. At this General Election, the Opposition has been rejected in toto. The people have given a massive victory to the Government for the second time as well. This is a victory deserved by the Government according to the task fulfilled by it over the past several years under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s leadership. The people have also immensely responded to the request made by the President to form a stable Parliament.

Q:The Government has obtained the highest number of seats while the UNP the lowest number of seats. What is the reason for this?

A:The people have rejected the Opposition. The UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has completely ruined the party formed by first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake, who would go down in history as the founder of the UNP, while Wickremesinghe, the leader who ruined that party.

The people have given a massive mandate to the UPFA Government to take the country forward.

They have completely rejected the false, mud slinging campaigns launched by the Opposition against the President and his Government on various alleged corruption charges. After this election, the Opposition will be further eroded.

Q:The JVP has suffered a severe setback and they have been unable to retain their power in the Southern Province as well. What led to this situation?

A:The JVP also tried their level best to ensure the victory of the President at the 2005 Presidential Election. Earlier the JVP were of the view that it is only President Mahinda Rajapaksa who can win this war and develop the economy.

Later the JVP joined hands with Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mangala Samaraweera, Rauff Hakeem and the TNA by assisting them to hatch various conspiracies to betray the country.

They levelled various baseless allegations against the President and his brothers to gain political mileage. But during this General Election, the people have completely rejected their baseless allegations and mud slinging campaigns.

The people have rejected the JVP even from its key strong holds such as Hambantota, Galle and Kurunegala. The JVP always attempted to mislead the people and take them for a ride. But the people have completely rejected them this time.

Q:The people have given an overwhelming majority to the Government to make necessary socio-economic changes within the country. How do you view this?

A:At present, the people have placed firm confidence in the President. They knew the Government would easily win the General Election due to the initiative taken by the Government to develop the country.

I also have firm confidence on the policies adopted by President Rajapaksa to handle the economy and deal with the international community. I am very confident the country would be transformed into prosperity within the next few years under the dynamic leadership of the President.

Q:Compared with the last Presidential Election results, the Government’s vote base has shown a significant increase in the North and East provinces. Your comments?

A:This is a very favourable result for the Government. This shows the Government has been able to win the hearts of the Tamil community in the North and East provinces.

Even at the last Presidential Election, President Rajapaksa obtained more votes from the North and East provinces than former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

The people in the North and the East have joined hands with the President by completely rejecting the “gun culture” introduced by the LTTE.

The President through his governance has clearly proved that he treats equally the people in the North as he treats the people in the South.

Therefore, the people in the North have completely rejected the “Eelam dream” introduced to them by separatist elements.

I hope the people in the North would rally round the President at the forthcoming Local Government Election.

Q:How do you view the victory gained by the Government in Kurunegala district?

A:The people of Kurunegala district have given a resounding mandate to the Government.

The UNP’s vote base in Kurunegala district has been further reduced at this election while the JVP has been eradicated.

Some UNPers in Kurunegala district didn’t vote for the UNP and stayed at home indirectly extending their support to the Government.

I also called upon the people of Kurunegala to give the Government a “two thirds majority. Of 15 seats in Kurunegala district, the UPFA has won 10 seats. This means the Government has gained two thirds majority in Kurunegala district.

I extend my gratitude to the people in Kurunegala who extended their fullest support to the UPFA to achieve this historic victory.

Q:Some election observers say the people have lost their confidence on the electoral system as a lowest voter turn out has been reported at this General Election. Your comments?

A:Most of these observers depend on international funds.

They sell the country’s democratic rights for their existence.

At the last Presidential Election, they said they cannot accept that election result.

But at this election, the people have completely rejected these claims made by some of these election observers.

One particular poll observation centre was formed by the UNP.

There are few election observers who act independently.