54th Annual Convention will be turning point for UNP - Daya Gamage

By Jaliya WIJEYEKOON

The United National Party held its Annual Convention recently amidst a large gathering of party supporters who had been invited by the party Organising Committee. The incumbent leader of the party Ranil Wickremesinghe consolidated his position firmly for a further six years amidst objections from a handful of party members including Deputy leader Sajith Premadasa.

However, at the end of the proceedings, everybody agreed to work in harmony for the betterment of the party with a number of resolutions being adopted to strengthen the party mechanism. The United National Party had a track record as the most powerful and formidable political force since its inception upto 2004. Though it experienced ups and downs from time to time, it was never bogged down in the Opposition for more than one parliamentary term prior to the 2004 general elections.

Following repeated defeats suffered by the party during the last few years, the Executive Committee had recently taken drastic measures to revolutionise the party mechanism to face any future election with confidence and a positive mindset.

The Sunday Observer had an exclusive interview with the National Organiser of the United national Party and Eastern Provincial Council Opposition Leader Daya Gamage to ascertain the present postion of the party, its activities and the future course of action with regard to the re organisation of the party.

Q: First and foremost, could you explain to me the recently held Annual Convention of the UNP?

A: Yes, We had our 54th Annual Convention on the first of this month. It will go down in the history of our party as the most successful convention due to the fact that we took a number of steps to revive the lost glory of our party. We are quite positive that our 54th Annual Convention would be a significant milestone or a turning point in our party for certain victory at a future election.

Q: Some of your party members including your Deputy Leader objected to certain decisions taken at the Convention. So, how can you say that your Convention was successful?

A: We are a democratic party and anybody can express his or her personal views on any policy matters. It doesn't mean that the event was not successful. Any democratic political party may have people who bear differences of opinion on issues. That is very good for democracy. Sajith Premadasa objected to the extension of the period of leadership, but eventually agreed to work in unison with the leadership to form a UNP government in future.

Q: Some of the UNP's dissident members make different statements to the media every now and then, mainly against the leadership. What is your party's stand on them?

A: I can cite enough and more examples of this nature from the recent past. When people have agendas or when they are caught in political traps laid down by unscrupulous elements, they make foolish utterances and finally end up with the ruling party for personal benefit and monetary gains.

Our Executive Committee has now decided to take stern disciplinary action against members who do not abide by the rules and regulations of the party.

Q: You have already completed an year as the National Organiser of the United National Party. What action have you taken to revive the party during this one-year period?

A: Well, soon after I was appointed as the National Organiser of the UNP, the government took over my main business Sevenagala and I had to look into the welfare of over 50,000 people who depended on this business. Then, immediately after sorting out that issue, I had to face the Provincial Council elections and completely devote my time to it in Ampara. Due to these two reasons, I couldn't fully carry out the program which I had formulated after accepting the post of National Organiser. Anyway, wherever and whenever possible, I was involved in the national organisational activities of the party.

Q: With your hectic schedule as a business person, how do you find time for politics and social services and what was the reason for you to take to politics?

A: I have been very good in time management from my young days. I always compartmentalise my thought process on all my engagements and try to achieve my targets. Your other question as to why I decided to take to politics? Well, I was not personally very interested in politics though I was heavily involved in social services and religious activities.

However, when P. Dayaratne left the UNP and joined the government, UNP supporters in the Ampara district requested me to take over the challenge and save them from further disaster.

Our party leader also requested me to join the UNP and I gladly obliged as I have basic knowledge of politics having closely associated with Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali. I feel happy with my decision as I am quite confident that I would be able to work for my countrymen without any discrimination in the near future under a UNP government.

Q: Do you get the co operation and assistance of all Area Organisers to discharge your duties as the National Organiser?

A: Well, as I told you earlier, I still could not carry out my duties fully as the National Organiser of the party. However, whatever requests I had made from the Area Organisers of the party had been met satisfactorily and I maintain a cordial relationship with everyone of them. I know there are certain shortcomings in some electorates and we hope to accelerate our propaganda activities in future, probably from January 15, 2013.

Q: With all your propaganda activities and re-organisational work, the ruling party secured a convincing victory at the Eastern Provincial Council election. What are your comments?

A: It is true that the ruling party formed the Council thanks to the Muslim Congress.

However, if you really scrutinise the results, you will see that the Government vote base has reduced from 60 percent in 2008 to 27-28 percent in 2012. This trend will definitely affect the UPFA at a national election. The UNP vote base has substantially increased although we were less in the elected number of heads.

Q: You are most likely to be re appointed the National Organiser of the party for further period. How do you hope to re-organise the party for a future election?

A: Well, first of all, I hope to hand over all my business enterprises to my son who would be completing his Masters Degree in the UK by next year. I will release myself from all business responsibilities and then I shall get myself engage full time in party politics.

I have already formulated a comprehensive program with expert advice to re-organise the party from grass roots level in all corners of the country. We have identified our shortcomings and drawbacks, the areas which need more attention and target groups and alternative solutions that the party proposes to fulfil.

It is not possible for me to explain all minute details as to how we will re-organise the party, but there will be an absolute overall development in the propaganda activities and we will be facing any future national election with a winning mindset.

Q: Could you briefly outline the social service activities that you are engaged in at the Ampara District?

A: I started social service from the time I became financially stable. My social service program is multi-faceted, mainly educational, religious, meritorious, spiritual and medical. We have Daya Sarana Foundation through which we help all needy people on the above categories.

In the field of education, we provide scholarships to students of grade 5, GCE (O/L), GCE (A/L) and upto university education. It's only one example. Similarly I help my countrymen in all areas stated above. I hope to extend this program islandwide one day. I receive great satisfaction by doing social service to my countrymen.

Q: As a prominent businessman in the country, what have you got to say about the 2013 Budget?

A: After the eradication of terrorism, people patiently waited for three years to see if they will get some relief from the 2013 Budget, but see what has happened. No relief measures have been provided to the ordinary people. Taxes have gone up, making life more difficult for the ordinary people. The Government says they want to maintain a growth rate of eight percent in the coming years, but how would they do that?

They hope to earn foreign exchange through foreign employment which is not favourable to the local economy in the long run. At the same time, no effective plans have been drawn to increase production. I would say that there is no budgetary importance in the 2013 proposals.

Q: Productivity Promotion Minister Lakshman Seneviratne has recently said that the Government has realised a net profit of Rs.790 million within 10 months from the Sevenagala Sugar Company after taking it over from the previous owner. What have you got to say about it?

A: First of all, the Government took over through acquisition Act only the land and buildings owned by me, not the machinery and equipment. I had granted a loan of Rs.270 million to the farmer families and I understand that loan repayments are deducted monthly, but not credited to the relevant account.

Where has the money gone? Some people, with no knowledge of forecast budget or actual budget, make various statements.

Q: What are your comments over the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake?

A: Despite having reservations about some of the verdicts given by her in the past, as a law abiding citizen, I always respect Supreme Court judgements.

It is the duty of all people to leave it to the Parliamentary Select Committee to probe the matter with accepted professional ethics and reach a conclusion.

It is not correct to humiliate her or criticise her actions over the media and try to create a rift between the Judiciary and Legislature.