PCs must enhance service to the public - MinisterW.D.J. Seneviratne

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Confident of the people's support to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs said that the Provincial Council elections 2012 will bring an outstanding victory for the party. Minister Seneviratne said that this election will be an alternative to a by election which will be the yardstick to measure people's confidence in the Government. Ensuring a free and fair election Minister Seneviratne said. "The party will not hesitate to take strict disciplinary action against those who would commit offences"..

Q: How is the election campaign going on?

A: The election campaign in Ratnapura district is proceeding well. And there were small hickups in the past few days. But now we have steered ahead of it. Every candidate is campaigning vigorously. And the enthusiasm displayed by the people is increasing. So as a result I think, as in the case of any other election, this Provincial Council election also will be satisfactory and give a very outstanding turnover.

Q: Are you confident in winning Sabaragamuwa for your party?

A: Yes, definitely we are.

Q: There is an accusation that the government is rushing into this Provincial Council election 2012.

A: Well, the election was to be held at the end of this year. The disadvantage system in our elections is that we do not have by-elections. If an MP dies or gets replaced there are no by-elections to find a new member. If there is a by-election the ruling party can check the strength of their people's support at any given time. This is an alternative to a by-election.

Thus the Government gets a chance to see whether they are unpopular among the people so that they can make adjustments to their systems, or whether they are popular. So there are certain advantageous methods in this sort of elections.

Q: Were there any disputes between candidates in the district?

A: Those were very minor disputes which are now been sorted out. Campaign supporters have been pasting posters over posters of other candidates, damaging cut outs, removing posters in the night and such complaints. Now with the decision of the Elections Commissioner posters and cut-outs are banned in public places till these problems are sorted out. That is a very good move on the part of the Elections Commissioner.

Q: How will you assure a free and fair election where people will feel free to vote, according to their conscience?

A: We as the SLFP will see that the elections are conducted democratically and no-election offences are committed. And no violence is inflicted. We have given clear guidance to candidates to refrain from committing any such election offences. The party will not hesitate to take strict disciplinary action.

Q: You are a senior political figure having a broad spectrum of experience over the years of service. How do you see the present political culture?

A: I should say that generally today the opinion that exists among the people is not one of happiness with regard to political field. People talk of a lot of shortcomings that exist in the system. And the people are aware that a lot of money is being spent by the central government to keep the provincial councils running.

And, the service that these Provincial Councils are rendering to the public is questionable. This view is often expressed by people often. The public feel that the fund utilised by the Central Government are not properly used by the Provincial Councils for the benefit of the people.

There is a large number of officials in the Provincial Council and equally there are large number of vehicles and facilities provided; thus a huge amount of money is spent by the central Government to maintain the Provincial Councils. In keeping with this colossal expenditure incurred by the Government the services rendered to the people also must be enhanced. And I should say that all the provincial councils are consisted of multi districts. So the service rendered to all the districts by the PC must be equal.

But that is not so in many instances providing services in the matter of giving jobs, providing infrastructure. So there doesn't seem to be an equal treatment to all districts that come under a PC. So that is a matter that has to be considered in view of the fact that everybody must receive equal treatment.

Q: Where is the problem? Is it the fault of the administrative system at national level or the provincial level?

A: It is the overall system that exists in governing the Provincial Council. When people are elected the person who becomes the Chief Minister will have enormous powers; so what happens very often is that the district he represents will automatically be prioritised.

As he has to go for the next election the needs of the people of that area are achieved more comparatively. So whatever the work that he does will be to satisfy people of his area. Because he knows he has to return to them to get re-elected.

May be he is not much in favour of doing more work to his people, but that person becomes the favourite to being re-elected. As a result the people who deserve a service don't get it, whilst another set of people who don't need the assistance get them.

Q: The people feel that politicians should go beyond seeking votes; have a broader perspective of developing the country as one unit giving similar attention. Isn't it high time that politicians seriously consider this thought, especially at a time where the Government successfully won a war against terrorism?

A: Yes, of course. The politician, whether senior or otherwise, will have to look at things in a broader perspective, because that is the method that can be used to handle the situation if we are genuinely interested in improving the country.

The thought must go beyond the perspective of getting votes at the next election. Therefore I think it is up to the politicians to get genuinely interested in improving the country to see that the broader utilisation of the facilities are done. And that should be done for the benefit of people rather the attention on the voter base.

I think we must do away with this system. Ultimately this would bring ruination of the democratic state of the country. Otherwise people will lose the trust of the system. People from all parts of these districts expect development, benefit. People cast their vote from all the districts of a province to the Chief Minister and expect various things.

But the financial provision provided to a Chief Minister is limited. So he may not be able to meet the expectations of the people. So that is why we find that a person who performs well in one election may lose his stand in the next. As with these issues, the system has become very unpopular. So it is high time to change the system.

Q: Do you mean to say that funds received by Provincial Council members need to be increased?

A: Yes. A Member of Parliament gets Rs. 5 million a year allocated for the development of his area. To meet the demands of the people there are limitations. So the politician becomes unpopular as he cannot meet the aspirations of the people.

Q: This system had been there for years. Every regime wanted to change the present election system. Why hasn't it happened?

A: One thing is that, as a country we didn't have a long period of non elections. Considering our party several parties affiliated to us did not agree with first past the post system of voting. So that the political expediency in order to preserve the unity of the party, certain controversial matters were not pursued, because we know that certain parties like SLMC and CWC are against the abolition of Provincial Council system of election.

But I think the Government must make a headway very soon because this system is creating a very chaotic situation. We don't get respectable, educated people coming in for elections - for politics. That is because one cannot cope with the amount of work entangled with organising an election in a specified area. Professionals are very unlikely to come. So to meet all these demands one must have immense resources and human support. As a result educated and professionally qualified people do not enter politics.

Q: You have been with people over a long time being in the political field. You witness the changes that have taken place in the rural masses. What is your comment?

A: In our areas I don't see people criticising the government. There is a vast development that has taken place in these villages. Earlier Ratnapura was a under-developed district. We didn't have much infrastructure. Today vast development has taken place with regard to development of roads, then in electricity.

Earlier the consumption of electricity in our area was 50 percent and today it has increased to 90 percent. So that has revolutionised the rural community and their living standards.

Economy is strong at present. The prices paid for tea leaves and rubber have increased. The rubber which fetched Rs. 50 has gone up to Rs. 400. Tea that fetched Rs. 25 - 30 has gone up to Rs. 50. Minor exports like pepper, cinnamon get a very competitive price. Paddy, which was not fetching even Rs. 10 per kilogram, now gets Rs. 25 - 30. So the farmers are benefited and economically strong. May be there can be deficiencies with regard to education and health facilities and its equal distribution. Nevertheless even those services are improving day by day.