Lifting Emergency, a bold move - Dinesh Gunawardena

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Chief Government Whip and Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, Dinesh Gunawardena was born on March 2, 1949 as the third son of Philip Gunawardena popularly known as ‘the Lion of Boralugoda’ and architect of Sri Lanka’s socialist movement and Kusuma Gunawardena, who were in the vanguard of the struggle for independence and equality.

Since his father Philip Gunawardena’s entry to the then State Council in 1936, Gunawardenas has represented the national legislature for over five decades.

Since the day Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was appointed as Chief Government Whip he has played a dominant and significant role leading the Government benches in Parliament at every crucial and decisive debate.

He has earned a reputation from the Government and Opposition members as a politician who is committed to uphold democratic traditions of the House and for his firebrand oratory in Parliament and on the political platform.

Minister Gunawardena in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that the declaration made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament on Thursday to lift the state of Emergency changed the entire political scenario nationally and internationally.

The Minister said this bold move by the President is a victory for all Sri Lankans who have been standing by the President since the day he achieved the historic victory defeating terrorism and restoring peace in the country.

He said at present the President has taken Sri Lanka forward ensuring democratic rights of the people and holding elections from the grassroots to the legislature.

Q: Water is a precious commodity and in the near future it will have to be rationed. Do you have a blueprint to ensure drinkable water to Sri Lankans in the future?

A: Yes. President Rajapaksa under the Mahinda Chintana program as well as Mahinda Chintana Idiri Dekma has very clearly stated that all citizens and every house-hold would be assured of drinking water. To achieve the goal, budgetary allocations for water supply and distribution networks have been increased.

There will also be an increase in the 2011 budgetary allocation to help achieve these objectives. At present, Sri Lanka has 87 percent access to drinking water while pipe borne water is about 60 percent. There is a coordinated program, to complete urban water supply schemes and a blueprint to achieve rural water supply targets.

Q: A national policy on water is a must specially for a developing country. What is the present position in this regard?

A:Sri Lanka must have a national water policy. A water policy means drinking water, water for irrigation or agriculture, water for energy and water for better health facilities.

These four sectors are inter-related. So obviously, there has to be coordination. In the future as you have just mentioned, water is going to be the key for development, better standards of living and better health facilities in the country.

Therefore, a coordinated national policy is being drafted to realise the objectives. The possible adverse conditions and constraints have to be studied.

For example, climate change will create droughts and sometimes cause excess water as well.

Therefore, key emphasis should be laid on how to harness sea water and also to recycle water, because at the moment we have not made enough progress in using recycled water even for non-drinking purposes.

At present good drinking water is used for gardening and washing vehicles.

Our present policy is to make better use of recycled water for non-drinking or non-sanitation purposes.

Q: How do you view the resolution moved by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament to lift Emergency regulations?

A: The President’s statement to Parliament to lift Emergency regulations is a historic statement.

It will make a tremendous change in national politics, democracy and the lives of the people in the country. I can remember how the Emergency was promulgated when I was a Member of Parliament in 1983.

Though there have been gaps in between, the continuous Emergency has affected the country and social life over the past 30 years. The bold move taken by the President is a victory for all Sri Lankans who have been standing by the President since the day he made the historic victory in defeating terrorism and restoring peace in May, 2009.

The President has taken the country forward having ensured democratic rights, holding elections from grassroots to Parliament in the North, East, South and West.

The President’s declaration in Parliament on Thursday changed the political scenario in the country nationally and internationally.

Q: There are allegations that the dignity and decorum of Parliament have deteriorated due to the unruly behaviour on the part of some Parliamentarians. As the Chief Government Whip how do you tackle this problem?

A: I have always been providing necessary guidelines to Parliamentarians that they should respect the dignity and decorum of the House and even how to conduct themselves in and outside Parliament.

Of course this has been happening over the years. We have done our utmost to restore the dignity of Parliament and it is incumbent on all MPs to lend their support.

One should not forget Sri Lanka is one of the oldest democracies in the world.

It is very essential to be cautious of the language one uses, the approach that one can make as a Parliamentarian irrespective of political loyalties and the substance that one contributes at Parliamentary debates. I feel that there must be a change in the system within Parliament such as committee systems where all would get a chance of participating and working together.

Q: The lack of quorum in Parliament has become a repeated phenomenon. This time the Opposition was also nominally represented. What action have you in mind to put an end to this situation?

A: Of course a quorum is not a serious issue that comes up since Members of Parliament are available within the Parliamentary complex. There are various committees and discussions that MPs should attend. In addition, there are also some permanent committees that Parliamentarians should ensure their representation. However, there is a tremendous drop in the presence of Members of Parliament which is an issue that has to be addressed by the Government and the Opposition. Senior Members of Parliament have been discussing as to how participation of MPs could be increased.

Q: The Opposition is serious about the failure on the part of Ministers to answer oral questions in Parliament, either replies are overdue or asking for more time again and again to furnish replies. As the Chief Government Whip you have the responsibility to streamline the situation. Your views?

A: All questions in Parliament are sent to the Ministries concerned. Ministry Secretaries have been advised that it is their responsibility to see that answers are sent as early as possible.

Most of the time delays have occurred since a lot of information is needed to reply questions. When we want to collect information from all districts, AGAs, or education or other authorities, it becomes a long process. Obviously a few delays are highlighted.

A Minister is helpless when a question is asked about a Provincial Council. Such a question will be directed to the Provincial Council concerned. They have to collect information and submit it to Parliament. The Minister himself or the secretary drafts the answers. However, the MPs should be more responsible and furnish replies faster.

Q: Is it correct to say that the Speaker’s recent appointment as President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an acknowledgement of Sri Lanka Parliament’s role and is a role model for British Parliamentary practices?

A: Very much. The Speaker’s appointment as President of the CPA is a significant achievement for Sri Lanka as well as for the Speaker himself.

This is a recognition of Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions - the Parliament. Sri Lanka has set many examples on tradition and new approaches to strengthen democracy.

We gained universal franchise in 1931. Whatever the challenges were, today we are in 2011. The Speaker has to safeguard Parliament and its elected representatives and make Parliament more effective.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa through his leadership in Parliament has proved this by winning this prestigious office for Sri Lanka with the support of all Commonwealth countries. I should also say when a Parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker went to India recently, they applauded the Speaker on his new appointment as the President of the CPA. At every discussion special words of appreciation were made of the Speaker which show that even the Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, acknowledged the role of the Speaker. This is a matter which all Sri Lankans should be proud of.

Q: The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) remains a UNP bastion except for the interlude in which Dr. N.M.Perera was the Mayor. Does the UPFA have a new political strategy to capture power of the CMC?

A: The CMC had always been a UNP-won council. But the people of Colombo have realised the importance of city development which eventually benefits them. The President and the UPFA Government is the only party that could give leadership and ensure the benefits of development.

A very senior former Minister Milinda Moragoda will contest from the UPFA as its mayoral candidate. At present some of the stalwarts of the UNP have also crossed over to the Government and pledged their contribution to the Government’s development efforts. All sections of Colombo society look forward to ensure a UPFA victory.

Q: Now the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) is looked upon as the panacea for problems faced by Tamils. There are different constituent parties within the UPFA holding divergent views. Therefore, could we expect a lasting solution to the problem?

A: There is a Constitution which is operative in the country today. The Constitution which was drafted during the UNP regime has gone through certain amendments. The PSC could address political, economic, cultural, social and regional issues and make its recommendations. That is why the Government is proposing a PSC with the participation of all political parties represented in Parliament. Let us not forget that Parliament is the supreme legislature.

Peoples’ representatives could sit down and put their head together and make proposals to Parliament to be implemented. The President has recognised this select committee and has allowed the Government Parliamentary group to move the resolution.

Q: Recent disruptive incidents largely in Muslim areas have created pandemonium including deaths in several parts of the country. Is this not a subtle move to incite the people against the Police and the Forces to create mayhem in the country?

A: Certain sections of the people want to test whether the Sri Lankan government could be de-destabilised by using such a situation. So repeated moves by these groups and false rumours are to see whether Government could be embarrassed by the Police and Armed Forces being accused of malpractise. This is a conspiracy.

Q: Don’t you suspect a foreign hand behind these ugly incidents as it has happened in other countries?

A: A foreign hand could also be behind these acts because there is no boundary today. New technology has broken all boundaries. Information technology and mobile phones have the ability to spread false rumours within a matter of seconds and the people get to work it out. But there are issues to which we should give attention. Otherwise, it could be used by unruly elements to create this situation.

Q: I think no responsible Government should take a light view of such situations, offenders should be strictly dealt with and the writ of the Government throughout the country should be restored. Your comments?

A: Very much. The rule of law must be applied and law and order should be maintained. Of course, our country has gone through a long period under terrorism. We must not forget all those who had a hand in the terrorist movement knowingly or unknowingly have been given freedom by the Government. So it takes time for such people to get back on the proper track.

Q: The Gunawardenas have represented the legislature for over five decades to ensure family contribution to national politics. Have you not groomed a successor?

A: That of course, is not my job. Gunawardenas have been in the legislature for the past 75 years. My father, Philip Gunawardena first entered the State Council in 1936.

Every legislature had a member of the Gunawardena family. Anyway, that is what the people of our country specially the down-trodden and the progressives have given us the mandate to espouse their cause for change and social welfare.

We would, however continue to work to realise these objectives.