Young MPs make valuable contribution in Parliament - Chandima Weerakkody MP

By Manjula FERNANDO

Chandima Weerakkody is a young MP and senior lawyer from the Galle district in the Southern Province. He hails from a family which could rightfully boast close relations with political stalwarts such as Amarasiri Dodangoda and Richard Pathirana. Here he speaks of his childhood and his entry into politics in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

I started my career as an Attorney-at-Law in 1994 and was attached to the Attorney General's Department in 1999 when I decided to step down to contest the Southern Provincial Council election.

The 1999 provincial council election marked my entry to mainstream politics - I was an elected provincial councillor in my home town. I was a PC member from 1999 to 2004.

I refrained from contesting in the 1999 parliamentary election despite pressure from various quarters as well as a strong desire within me to run for a seat in Parliament.

I knew that the election which came in the heels of my Provincial Council victory would give an added thrust and bring me one step closer to the country's highest office. But I finally concluded that I should not let my emotions take over. My political career should be a slow and steady one.

I looked up to my uncle, my mother's elder brother, as a political role model. SLFP stalwart late Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda was an honoured politician, among both Government and Opposition camps alike. He was a moderate and his campaigns were not marred by violence.

Being the person he was my uncle never pressured me into politics, but his party supporters played a major role in that aspect.

As a student of Nalanda College, Colombo, which I joined after studying up to Grade five at St. Aloysius, Galle I spent a good part of my childhood witnessing how his campaigns took shape and how he commanded his political career as a diehard leftist. It was inspiring and intriguing for me as a young schoolboy.

My grandfather William Dodangoda, a famous personality in the area known by the name Market Ralahami, was a staunch UNPer. He would never condone any other political affinity or conviction. Such was his loyalty towards the green camp.

In contrast my uncle and his family had leftist ideologies. My entry to politics from the SLFP was largely influenced by these moderate sentiments. In a rare display of authority, my uncle expressed that if at all I should contest, then that should be from a leftist party. I could not agree more.

My uncle's first election campaign in 1977 was carried out from my parents' house in Hapugala in the Galle district. At the time I was just an eight-year-old boy.

General election

At the 2004 general election, six candidates who contested under the PA banner were selected to parliament from the Galle district. There were three JVPers and three SLFPers. I was the seventh in the list.

During this period I was appointed Chairman, Southern Development Authority and State Mortgage Bank Chairman in 2006.

In May 2009, after the demise of my uncle Amarasiri Dodangoda, I made an unexpected entry to Parliament. It was a moment of mixed emotions. Although I yearned for this day, I walked in with a heavy heart.

The April 2010 general election dispelled all my reservations and apprehensions when I was re-elected with over 52,700 votes. I was fourth in the preferential list. I was the SLFP organiser for Habaraduwa electorate.

Answering questions, Weerakkody said:

Q: Are you satisfied with your role as a young MP towards the people you represent?

A: The majority of new MPs are very keen to make a valuable contribution in the Parliament process. They have a good understanding of the legislature and their responsibilities.

We have a specific role in group meetings and President Mahinda Rajapaksa is intent that we contribute effectively. We receive instructions constantly on our specific roles as Government parliamentarians.

It is paramount that we make a notable contribution towards the parliamentary proceedings and our constituencies to satisfy our voters. If we fail in this duty, a re-election will be impossible.

There are many parliamentary consultative committees for sectors such as Justice, Public Administration, Fisheries and Traditional Industries. I am a member of the committees on Highways and Special Education. Unlike in the past, the consultative committees are required to meet before sessions every month. Amendments to the Widows and Orphans Ordinance in the Public Administration Act, was one such instance. It was discussed at consultative committee level.

Compensation claims

During the conflict, many casual employees were killed. Under the amended Act, implemented with retrospective effect from 1981, their parents or spouses were entitled for compensation if their deaths occurred due to terrorism or natural disasters.

Such issues are being discussed at consultative committee level and finetuned before being sent to the Legal Draftsman.

I strive to make a significant contribution in the development of Galle. The district had been lagging behind during the past two decades compared to other areas.

We have received funds worth Rs. 261 million from the Economic Development Ministry under Minister Basil Rajapaksa, to upgrade the Galle bus-stand. Once completed, it will be the longest bus-stand in the country.

The backbone of Galle is the tourism industry. There is so much scope for development in this sector and the district can be an important stakeholder in the country's ambitious goal to become an economic giant in the region and the Wonder of Asia. To do this, we must focus on attracting high-end travellers. It is with this view that SriLankan Airlines will commence domestic sea plane services from Colombo to Koggala on November 1.

The first Western interests in the country were kindled with the arrival of Portuguese Captain Lorenzo de Almeida in the 15th century. He entered the island from an ancient port in Unawatuna.

No one knows of this historic location. We are currently in the process of demarcating this area and developing it as a tourist attraction.

Among things of interest are Sri Lanka's oldest printing press where the first newspaper 'Sinhala Bauddaya' was printed and locations existing at higher gravity points in Unawatuna. Such places attract many tourists and we need to carry out the necessary ground work and proclaim them as tourist zones.

Giniwella Temple in Ahangama is another location earmarked for renovation in the Galle development plan under the auspices of the Economic Development Ministry.

Language laboratories

There will be language laboratories set up at Ahangama Hotel School and Imaduwa Divisional Secretariat to teach English, French, German and Russian as a boost to the already thriving tourism industry.

Q: There is an accusation that young parliamentarians are a waste of public funds. What would you say about this?

A: I don't agree. I cannot speak on behalf of everyone, but the majority of those elected do contribute effectively and are making a genuine effort to create a difference. There may be one or two who fall short of the expectations of their voters.

Q: You are a Southern politician. How do you evaluate the mounting pressures and efforts taken to groom Sajith Premadasa as the Leader of the United National Party?

A: I don't think the UNP stands a chance of being a fitting contender against Mahinda Rajapaksa or the UPFA in another general election for a long time to come.

The UNP has been shamefully defeated at 16 elections. Even after 16 defeats, the UNP has not been able to remove its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who had proven his ineptness, and choose a competent leader to steer the weakened party.

Nevertheless, I do not think there is anyone competent in the Party who could deliver a better deal to the people of this country than President Rajapaksa or the UPFA.

Q: Do you believe in hate politics?

A: We have been elected with the people's mandate. We must somehow see to it that the people's expectations are fulfilled. The mandate was to implement the 'Mahinda Chinthana Idiridekma'.

I have contested three elections. There have been no reports or complaints that any of my campaigns were marred by violence. I have been in full time politics since 1999. That is a fairly long time, I suppose, for anyone to make a sound conclusion of my political career.