Three offspring of Gampaha district UNP stalwarts in the fray

By Jaliya Wijeyekoon

Harshana Rajakaruna, Shrinath Mahendra Perera and Kavindu Jayawardene, sons of UNP stalwarts are actively engaged in their election campaign for the Western Province Council representing the Gampaha district.

Harshana and Mahendra are vying for the second consecutive term and former minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene's son Kavindu is the fresh entrant trying for a slot in the council.

Harshana Rajakaruna's father who passed away a few years ago was a veteran politician from Dompe electorate who made his mark in the annals of political history having defeated SLFP minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike in 1977. Since then he continuously represented Gampaha district until 2004 holding a number of ministerial portfolios.

Kavindu Jayawardene's father Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene was a tower of strength to the United National Party for over two decades who rendered a tremendous service to the country in helping to establish inter-communal harmony as a front line Minister and a medical doctor.

Srinath Mahendra Perera's father is the senior politic in the Gampaha district, Joseph Michael Perera who entered parliament in 1977, functioned as a deputy minister, then a Senior Cabinet Minister, Speaker of the House and continues as a member of parliament and holds the Asst. Leader post of the party.

The Sunday Observer had exclusive interviews individually with the three sons of former stalwarts to ascertain their preparation and the program of work for the forthcoming elections and the excerpts are as follows:

Harshana Rajakaruna

	Provincial Councils should work hand in hand with the central government
Harshana Rajakaruna

Q: You are contesting the PC elections for the second consecutive term. Have you fulfilled the aspirations of the people of the province during your last term?

A: You have to understand the fact that an opposition member could do only a limited amount of work in the Council. It is not possible for a member to satisfy the meeds of all people in the province with the limited budgetary allocations.

I have fully utilized my budgetary allocations, drawn a large amount of money from my fund and also I have helped specially the students, youth leagues, sports clubs and various voluntary organisations in the district through my personal affiliations with affluent bodies.

At the same time I must tell you that as an Opposition member of the Provincial Council, I have made my contribution to my fullest potential in all its activities. We as Opposition members have always stood against the ruling party on people-unfriendly measures and stopped them.

Q: Some critics say that Provincial Councils are a white elephant to the government coffers. What have you got to say about it?

A: Provincial Councils were introduced to the country in 1987 with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution as a concrete solution to the long drawn North-East problem. That is mainly to devolve power from the central government to the periphery. I do not agree with the statement that PCs are a white elephant.

If the PCs function smoothly, impartially and without resorting to corruption and mismanagement, it can do a great deal of work for the development of the province. Unfortunately some politicians of the day misuse the powers and privileges for their personal gains rather than serving the taxpayers of the province.

Provincial Councils should work hand in hand with the central government and then only the desired results could be achieved through the PCs. The central government has even taken over the collection of revenue taxes today from the Western Provincial Council.

Q: At the last PC election you polled the second highest number of preferential votes in the district? How is your election campaign this time?

A: Yes I have already commenced my election campaign from Dompe electorate and hope to extend it to other electorates also within the next two weeks. Rather than holding big public rallies I believe in visiting house to house and educate the public as to why they should bring the UNP back to power. The response we receive from the public is more encouraging than what I had at the last election. People are anxiously waiting to see a change of power in the Western Provincial Council as it had failed to discharge its duties during the last number of years.

Q: But the ruling party people say that they have done a lot of development activities in the province, your comments?

A: Yes, some development work have been done without identifying the priorities. There are a large number of schools and hospitals without even basic facilities in the Western Province. There are shortages in staff requirements for some important subjects in schools. Those are the main issues the PC should address.

Q: There is an allegation by your own party people that sons and close relatives of senior politicians stepping into politics deprives the opportunity of young and upcoming youth of the area to get into politics.

What have you got to say about it?

A: Well, I don't think that we have deprived anybody's chances. There are 43 candidates in Gampaha district and only three of us are the siblings of former UNP stalwarts. As long as you are committed to the welfare of the people and genuinely interested in making your politic career to serve the people, there is nothing wrong in taking to politics.

Shrinath Mahendra Perera

	We will have only a few major rallies in main towns
Shrinath Mahendra Perera

Q: you are contesting the WPC elections for the second consecutive term? When you look back at your last term, as an Opposition member could you be happy with your performance and achievements ?

A: Well, as an Opposition member in the Council I did my part and represented the grievances of the public in the Council. We aired our views on every move and mostly we objected on certain projects that they were trying to implement.

But since the ruling party had an adequate majority they went ahead with some unrealistic projects notwithstanding our objections. Anyway, I am personally happy that we as a responsible Opposition carried out our duties without fear or favour.

Q: You are a son of a party stalwart in the district and some say that you have deprived the opportunity of another upcoming youth in the district of the opportunity of entering politics.

A: I do not agree with this allegation because there are 13 electorates in the district and we have to field a minimum of three candidates from each electorate.

There are one or two electorates where we couldn't find even three candidates. So how can you say that I have deprived the chance of anybody?

Q: How is your election campaign? Did you encounter any negative incidents with the opposition candidates?

A: We in the UNP group are engaged in the election campaign collectively and also individually. We will have only a few major rallies in main towns. We mainly concentrate on house to house canvassing and pocket meetings at the end of the day.

The second part of your question does not arise as I have instructed all my followers never to have any confrontations with anybody during my election campaign.

Q: As an Opposition member of the Western PC have you been able to provide any assistance to the needy people in the area in addition to representing their grievances at the Council?

A: Well, I work with a clear vision and a comprehensive program of work specially for the youth, students and down-trodden masses of the district.

I have a program to distribute books on mathematics to needy children in the district and I have also taken steps to provide English Language skills to the needy students out of my personal funds. Without an adequate knowledge of these two major subjects students cannot pursue their higher studies. Thousands of students have already benefited by this program.

I also provided sports equipment to sports clubs in the district and encourage youngsters to actively engage in sports activities. I also provide facilities and books to all Dhamma schools of both religions.

	We will have only a few major rallies in main towns
Dr. Kavindu Jayawardene

Q: With all what you have done and with your strong background it will not be difficult for you to retain your slot in the council. But what are your chances of winning the district for the party to form a administration in the Western Provincial Council?

A: Yes, our main aim is to win the district for the party of which we are very confident. We always educate the public on the present socio-economic situation.

The cost of living has skyrocketed and people find it difficult to meet both ends with their limited income. Not only the poor people, public servants and even the upper middle class are affected with the increasing cost of living.

It is not difficult for us to mobilise the masses and form a UNP administration to provide relief to the people in the province.

Q: You are a qualified medical officer who will have a lucrative career in future. What made you to engage in politics? Did your father want you to follow his footsteps after his death.

A: UNP politics have been in my blood from my childhood.

As a student at Royal College I was interested in listening to political speeches of great politicians at that time. I have vivid memories of my father's political career and how he faced situations at the triumph and defeat of the party.

Though I was interested in politics my father never encouraged me to do so.

He only wanted me to pursue higher studies and I could still remember how happy he was when he attended my convocation in India. Although I was interested in politics I never dreamt of getting actively involved in it so soon in life.

I lost my father at the most unexpected moment and soon after my father's funeral, all his friends and a large number of people from the area jointly and individually requested me to file the vacuum created by my fathers' untimely demise.

Hence I listened to the people whom I knew from my childhood days having worked very closely with them on my father's propaganda activities.

When I sounded my desire to contest the PC elections, my party hierarchy gladly accepted me and wanted me to go ahead with the organisational activities.

Q: You are the youngest team member in the Gampaha district and a novice to the provincial politics. How confident are you in winning a slot in the Western Provincial Council?

A: Though I am the youngest in our list and a novice to the provincial politics, I am quite confident, capable and eligible to be a Western Provincial Councillor with the support already given to me by all the stakeholders of the party.

I have already drawn up a comprehensive program of work for the vital sections and areas which need immediate attention. I have already launched my election campaign in the district, I visit from house to house wherever possible and educate the people as to why they should bring back UNP to power.

I do not run behind canvassing preferential votes for me. What I want is to win the district for the party so naturally we shall be among the winning candidates.

Q: Your party performance at the last number of elections had not been satisfactory. Do you think that you could revive it at the next election.

A: Political parties undergo ups and downs due to various reasons. At present the political climate has changed in the country for the opposition to return to power mainly due to the increasing cost of living, scarcities in essential commodities, and problems in education, health and agriculture.

It is only a matter of working with grit, determination, hope, faith and conviction for us to win the district for the party.

Q: Politicians of both camps are used to distribute material benefits to their party supporters and to voluntary organisations from time to time to woo the support for them at elections. Do you also hope to do similar things to win votes?

A: Politicians shouldn't be Santa Claus at election periods and hoodwink the masses only to win elections.

Instead they must formulate a viable and concrete system to address the grievances of the downtrodden masses in the area.

Q: What do you think about the preferential voting system?

A: More than the popularity, charisma and the eligibility of candidates, a person who can afford to squander a huge amount of money could also win under this system. I feel that this system has to be replaced with the first-past-the post system which is more democratic.

Q: What is your main political strategy or the theme to woo the support for you at the forthcoming election?

A: Vote for the United National Party which has solid answers to the burning questions and elect the most qualified trustworthy and dedicated candidates who will represent the public welbeing.