President will fulfil Tamil aspirations - Praba Ganesan

by Ananth Palakidnar

The Colombo District Democratic People's Front (DFP) Parliamentarian Praba Ganesan expressed confidence that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would lead the country to economic prosperity, during his second term in office which begins in a couple of weeks.

In his first term in office President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proved himself a formidable leader who has won the hearts and minds of his country men by eradicating terrorism, which had ruined the country during the past three decades, Ganesan said.

Excerpts of his interview with the Sunday Observer:

Q: How do you explain your role since you extended your support to the Government in August this year?

A: Well, I am the only Tamil Parliamentarian in the Government from the Colombo district and also from the Western Province. Since I decided to support the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government I feel that my pathways to serve my people are clear with no obstacles. Rather than criticising we must join hands with the progressive forces to serve our people. What I want is that the peace established after enormous sacrifices should be meaningful.

Therefore, I am doing my part as a Tamil Parliamentarian to help the Government to succeed in its post-war development priorities. There are several small Tamil schools in the Western province which have been neglected. So my priority will be on improving the educational standards of such schools and eradicating illiteracy in families. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa is also supporting me in my efforts.

Q: What is your opinion on the plans initiated by the Government to eradicate shanties and develop Colombo city?

A: I would say it is a timely. The Colombo city had also suffered immensely due to three decades of terrorism in the country. The infrastructure facilities of the Western Province were neglected to a great extent due to excessive security measures necessitated by the internal conflict. However, unlike in the past the country is safe and secure with the eradication of terrorism. Therefore, the living standards of the people should be improved on par with those of other capital cities in the developed world.

In recent years thousands of people from other areas have settled down in Colombo so the city is very much congested. The people living in the shanty areas in various parts of the city have no proper infrastructure facilities. They live in makeshift structures without proper hygienic facilities. So to create a healthy environment for these poor people new housing facilities are the need of the hour. Therefore, we should see this issue with farsightedness instead of politicising it.

Q: When you were in the Opposition you expressed concern over the safety and security of the Tamils in the Western Province. How is the situation now ?

A: There was a time where the Tamils were looked at suspiciously. A large number of innocent young Tamils was arrested, detained and harassed. My party, the Democratic People's Front voiced its concern for the safety and security of innocent Tamils. Apart from the arrests, there were abductions and extortions as well.

My party was in the forefront to stand by the Tamils in the Western Province. But now the situation has changed. Tamils who found shelter in Colombo from the North and the East have returned to their original places. The security in Colombo has also improved remarkably. I hats off the President who said that there was nothing called minority but all are equal in this country. Therefore, whether one is a Tamil, Sinhalese or Muslim one could live safely and peacefully in any part of this country.

Q: What is your observation on the UNP's stance on Sarath Fonseka issue?

A: The UNP is now in total disarray. It is politically bankrupt. When the conflict was at its peak, the UNP continued to support Prabhakaran. Now they cry for Fonseka! The UNP does not have any stable policy of its own.Sarath Fonseka was imprisoned for the unlawful things he had committed. Therefore, if the party is fighting for his release, which means the other criminals imprisoned for various offenses, should also be freed.

Ranil Wickremesinghe's leadership will not take the party anywhere in the future.

Q: The plantation sector remains the backbone of the country's economy.Do you see any progress in their living conditions?

A: I hardly see any progress in their standard of living.The three decades of conflict had marred the development of all sectors in the country.The plantation sector was affected badly as a result of the burden created by the conflict on the economy. The labour force in the plantation sector is living under very poor conditions.

A recent survey has indicated that there is a big drop in the attendance at the schools in the plantation sector.Their housing needs have to be addressed.

The plantation labour force brought to the country by the british still remains the same. However, the living standards of their counterparts in countries such as Malaysia and in various parts of the world have improved significantly.

Q: How do you observe the post-war development activities in the North and the East?

A: The Government is doing its best to expedite the resettlement process. It cannot be completed overnight. The entire North and the East had devastated badly due to the conflict during the last three decades. Loss of lives and properties every where! However, since the conflict came to an end in 2009, there are some significant developments with regard to resettlement and rehabilitation.

Of course, there are some shortcomings, but we have to overcome them by working along with the Government. I have been in touch with the Minister of Resettlement, Milroy Fernando. Compared to the resettlement process carried out in other parts of the world, we are far ahead in dealing with the issue.

Q: Certain politicos such as Y. Gopalaswamy and Nedumaran from Tamil Nadu are still going ahead with adverse propaganda over the Lankan Tamil issue. How do you view their activities?

A: They are also politically bankrupt like the UNP politicians. The people such as Y. Gopalaswamy and Nedumaran do not understand the ground realities in the North and the East. They are merely shouting for their political survival.

Therefore, the adverse comments made by the Tamil Nadu politicos such as Nedumaran and Gopalaswamy are meaningless and will not help the Lankan Tamils at all.

Q: How do you expect India to play its role on the issues in Sri Lanka?

A: India is definitely a super power in the South Asian region. India also played an important role with regard to the Sri Lanka's conflict.

The conflict situation did not allow India to play an important role in Sri Lanka's economy. However, India now has a bigger role in stabilising Sri Lanka's economy. Several projects have been started by India in the North and the East with its support for the post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction process.

Indian leaders have already assured their support to develop Sri Lanka and I am confident that the both countries will have healthy interaction in the trade and industrial sector in the future.

Q: President Mahinda Rajapaksa will commence his second term in office in a couple of weeks.What is your comment on this new beginning? A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already proved himself a successful leader. Bringing an end to the three decades of internal conflict in the country is his success story. His predecessors had failed badly in tackling the LTTE whereas President Rajapaksa fulfil his part in defeating terrorism perfectly.

As he is now in the threshold of commencing his second term in office he will focus more towards stabilising the economy of the country. Soon after the conflict his Government had launched several development projects and in a relatively short period such projects have been completed successfully.

He has been accepted as a good leader by all people in the country. The countrymen have tremendous confidence in him and they believe that he will overcome the challenges faced by his Government.

I am confident that President Rajapaksa will certainly fulfil the political aspirations of the Tamils in the country.

Q: You will be attending the International Conference of the Global Organisation of the People of Indian Origin in London this week. What will be your message on behalf of the Sri Lankans of Indian origin at this confab?

A: The Global Organisation of the People of Indian Origin is an effective body which looks into the interests of the people of Indian origin who live in various parts of the world. The Central Government of India has a separate Ministry to look into the matters of the people of Indian origin abroad.

By representing Sri Lanka in this confab I would be able to interact with the representatives from various other countries representing the people of Indian origin. The living standards of the people of Indian origin have improved tremendously in various countries. I consider the London confab would pave the path to explore the ways and means to overcome the grievances of the people of Indian origin in our country.