TNA should sort out burning issues in North - Minister S.B. Dissanayake

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Higher Education Minister, S.B.Dissanayake said the TNA should think as one nation and develop the country without promoting separatist or Eelam ideologies. The country should be taken in a direction where the Sinhalese and Tamils would not look at each other with suspicion or fear. That mission can be successfully accomplished under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that he believes the Northern Province Chief Minister, C.V. Vigneswaran who is a reputed legal luminary would cooperate with the President and the Government in an amicable manner. Instead of talking about getting Police and land powers or withdrawal of the Security Forces, the Northern Provincial Council should give utmost priority to sort out the burning issues faced by the people in the North. The TNA's Chief Minister has laid a solid foundation by taking oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Northern Provincial Council Election is a clear reflection of the people’s genuine desire to restore democracy and peace.

Excerpts of the interview...

Q: The Northern Province Chief Minister, C.V. Vigneswaran taking oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa

seems their desire to settle differences within a united Sri Lanka. How do you look at this significant development?

A: As far as democracy is concerned, I see this as a positive development. I believe Northern Province Chief Minister who is a reputed legal luminary can cooperate with the President and the Government in an amicable manner. Instead of talking about getting Police and land powers or withdrawal of the Security Forces, the Northern Provincial Council should give its utmost priority to sort out the burning issues faced by the people in the North. I think TNA's Chief Minister has laid a solid foundation for that by taking oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, the TNA should realise one thing. Those who were in the North demanded for these powers since 1905. But they were unable to get these powers even in 1912,

1921, 1936 or 1948. In addition, the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact in 1957, the Dudley Senanayaka -Chelvanayagam Pact in 1965 also could not be implemented. Later, the J.R. Jayawardene Government which came to power in 1977 rigged the 1981 Development Council Election by setting ablaze the Jaffna Library. On the other hand, the now defunct LTTE leader Prabhakaran also posed death threats to those who were going to cast their vote. Under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, late President Jayawardene didn't want to give these powers. Therefore, after a lapse of nearly 100 years, President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the first time gave these powers to the North.

The President conducted a free and fair election in the North by allowing the people to exercise their franchise freely. We knew the people in the North who watched LTTE television, read LTTE newspapers and listened only to Prabhakaran's voice over the past 30 years would vote against the Government. But the President didn't bother about that and he is satisfied with the number of votes the Government got in the North. The TNA should think as one Sri Lankan nation and render their contribution to develop the country without talking about separatism or Eelam.

This country should be go in a direction where the Sinhalese and Tamils would not look at each other with suspicion or fear. I think that mission can be fulfilledl under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q: How do you look at the Government's decision to conduct a free and fair election in the North after a lapse of 25 years by allowing the people to elect their own Chief Minister and representatives to the Northern Provincial Council?

A: When Varatharaja Perumal contested as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the North, Prabhakaran threatened the people in the North not to cast their vote. He even killed some of those people who cast their vote. It was Prabhakaran who preventeddidn't provide any room to conduct an election in the North.

Prior to him similar attempts were made by some other Tamil political parties like EROS, EPDP and EPRLF. For the first time, the present Government could conduct a free and fair election in the North amidst tight security given to the people by the Army and the Police. The Northern people utilised their mandate to the maximum at this election. I see this as a good reaction which would further ensure the people's trust on elections and the democratic process. Because the people in the North had lost confidence in elections at the Jaffna Development Council Elections held in 1981. As a result, the youth were dragged towards f taking to arms. At present that situation has completely changed and the people's confidence in elections and the democratic process has been strengthened.

Q: What is the significance gesture that you witnessed at the election results in Wayamba, Central and Northern Provinces?

A: We knew that we were not in a position to win the election in the Northern Province. But the Northern PC election helped to create enthusiasm and trust in the election process. I think this is an advantage for a democratic country. When the TNA won the Northern Provincial Council, it meant that 87,000 people in the North had voted in favour of the Government. Because the TNA interpreted this election as a Sinhala-Tamil competition. It is not good to promote these ideas among communities. As a result, the majority of the people in the North were on the side of the TNA. Because their mindset had been built in such a manner over the past 30 years. In this situation , 87,000 people voted for the Government and a SLFP candidate was also elected to the Northern PC. Therefore, the Northern Election is a clear reflection of the people’s genuine desire to restore democracy and peace.

The outcome of the election results in the Wayamba and Central Provinces clearly shows the confidence placed on the President and the Government by the vast majority of the people in these two provinces. Voters have endorsed their trust in President Rajapaksa as the Leader who rescued the nation from the clutches of three decades old terrorism.

Q: President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the swearing in of the Northern Province Chief Minister said that if the TNA was willing to cooperate with the Government, he was prepared to continue the development and uplift of the North. Would you like to elaborate your views on this?

A: The newly elected Northern Provincial Council has only two options. One is to join hands with the Government to conduct their development activities in the North.

Otherwise they should join hand with the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora and clamour for Police and land powers. I think the people in the North want development and want to sort out their problems. Therefore, I believe the Northern Provincial Council will cooperate with the Government in an amicable manner. The NP Chief Minister, Vigneswaran has the ability to give leadership to the Northern Provincial Council.

Q: The UNP Working Committee has decided to appoint a powerful Supreme Council and Party Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken a step backwards and made a policy decision to vest powers to the Supreme Council. Do you see this as a way forward to overcome the present setback faced by the UNP?

A: This is yet another fraud committed by the UNP. Ranil Wickremesinghe will never come to power or resign from his post so that this Supreme Council will turn into just another council. But I have to emphasise one fact that it is not Ranil Wickremesinghe who is responsible for this humiliating defeat faced by the UNP, it is Sajith Premadasa who dragged the UNP into this deplorable level. If somebody questions someone who has left the UNP for their genuine reason for leaving the party, they would obviously say they left the party because of Sajith. Sajith in a fraudulent manner created a crisis situation within the party with the intention of removing a large number of UNPers who were against to him. His strategy was to remain within the party by removing all those who were opposed to him.

That is what he did to Dayasiri Jayasekara as well. Dayasiri made a great effort and struggled within the party on behalf of Sajith. But when Dayasiri had inquired from Sajith, he had told him that he cannot launch a struggle within the party as he is going on a marathon. So Sajith is the person who has made the biggest blunder for the UNP. The reason for that is unlike Anura Bandaranaike, Sajith attempts to behave like a crown prince within the UNP. Sajith's destiny would suffer the same fate as that of Anura Bandaranaike. The Supreme Council would not make any reform within the UNP. We should bear in mind that it is Sajith who had caused irreparable damage to the UNP and not Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Q: The leadership crisis in the UNP reached a climax with clashes erupting between protesting pro and anti Ranil factions in Matara last week. How do you look at this tense situation and the violence unleashed between the two factions of the same party?

A: This clearly shows the unfortunate situation faced by the country’s main Opposition and the country'soldest party. It is regrettable to see the country’s main Opposition has turned into such a pathetic situation. Mangala Samaraweera is the other person who has caused irreparable damage to the UNP. He was instrumental in creating that clash in Matara. We wish the UNP would be able to sort out its petty differences and organise itself and rise as a formidable opposition.

Because the lack of a vibrant Opposition is not a healthy trend for the country or the Government. UNPers are aware that the UNP is not in a position to come to power for the next 20 years. I think that is not a bad thing. Because Leaders like Lee Kuan Yew, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and General Park turned Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea into developed countries after decades of rule. Lee Kuan Yew ruled Singapore for nearly 27 years and Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s rule in Malaysia spanned over 22 years. General Park ruled South Korea for about 25 years. After a lapse of 100 years, our country is developing rapidly under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. If the President remains in power for another one or two consecutive terms, Sri Lanka would turn into a well-developed country. It is high time for traditional UNPers to take a decision to join hands with the President by looking at the direction the country is moving under the President's leadership.

Q: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has confirmed that he would not attend CHOGM. What led the Canadian Premier to boycott CHOGM?

A: The pro LTTE diaspora is strong in Canada. I think some pro-LTTE members are represented in the Canadian Parliament as well. Earlier also the Canadian Prime Minister made contradictory statements under the influence of the pro-LTTE diaspora. Before long these pro-LTTE elements would become a serious threat to Canada as well. It is obvious that the Canadian Prime Minister is under pressure from the pro-LLTE Tamil diaspora. It is regrettable that a democratic country like Canada has given refuge to an illegal terrorist organisation like the LTTE. Although they claim that the LTTE is banned in Canada, pro-LTTE elements are roaming freely in Canada. This would have an adverse impact on Canada’s future as well.

Q: President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed that Parliament is the ideal forum to address the issue of implementation of the 13th Amendment so that the members of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) should engage in a dialogue to reach a consensus on this issue. Your comments?

A: Because there is no other alternative. The 13th Amendment is a part of the Constitution. This can only be discussed within the forum of Parliament and after that a proposal can be put forward to the President via Parliament. In a democratic country, the PSC is the only forum that can discuss any issue pertaining to power sharing or the ethnic issue.

It is the responsibility of all political parties to make use of this forum to air their views on this matter. Instead of finding a solution, some Opposition political parties were trying to realise their narrow political objectives. The UNP, the JVP and the TNA have no right to

boycott the PSC. They should come to the PSC and express their stance on this issue. If Opposition parties boycott the PSC it is an embarrassment to the Government. Those who honestly love their motherland should not resort to such behavior.

Q: According to you what are the specific economic benefits to be gained by Sri Lanka from CHOGM?

A: When Malaysia held the Commonwealth Games, their per capita income was $ 600.

At present our per capita income is $ 3000. Therefore, CHOGM is an important event for us rather than the Commonwealth Games. Former Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said their economic take off came from holding the Commonwealth Games. CHOGM would lay a solid foundation to increase investment, imports and exports and tourists arrivals. During the CHOGM period, Sri Lanka would become the central topic all over the world.

The whole world will focus its attention on Sri Lanka and this would help to develop our naval, aviation and education hubs as set out in the Mahinda Chinthana. When the Non Aligned Summit was held in Sri Lanka , our economy didn’t have the necessary strength to move forward. At present our economy is growing rapidly. Therefore I believe our economy can take off to hugher levels with CHOGM.

Q: CHOGM would provide the opportunity for world leaders to see for themselves the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka and debunk certain misconceptions d among them about Sri Lanka. Would you like to comment on this?

A: It is evident that the US attempted to interfere into our internal affairs. I believe if India stands by us, this pressure on Sri Lanka will not be as it is. Unfortunately, India is not doing that. At this crucial juncture, we are supported by China, Russia, Cuba and the Arab countries. Therefore, it is important to further strengthen our bilateral ties with these countries. CHOGM would pave the way to build our relationships with Leaders of African States. This would be a strength to successfully face threats at international fora.