Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, in an interview with Dailymirror before he was arrested and remanded, said that the Lanka Freedom Party had virtually been divided at the moment. He said the new political movement braced for any election or referendum at any moment. Excerpts of the interview;
QHow do you look to the Joint Opposition’s future political programme?
In Badulla, we started a political programme with a long term vision. Before that, we engaged with all our stakeholders and sought their views to be incorporated in the programme. With all that, the programme was launched under the guidance of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It is the most successful we had after the electoral defeat on January 8, 2015.
In 18 local bodies lying within nine electorates of the Badulla district, we had meetings. It was an awareness programme. We intended to apprise people of what is happening. In the fact, at the end, we learnt from people who sounded much more aware than us about the status quo. Enlightened with public output, we concluded the events .
QWhat did you learn from the people actually?
People of electorates such as Mahiyangane and Wiyaluwa are mostly engaged in agriculture including paddy cultivation. Chena cultivation is also there. They grapple with economic hardships. Their livelihood is in dire strait, in part due to the collapse of the price of paddy, and in part due to the lack of fertiliser.
As for chena cultivators, they are used to growing maize as the main crop. There is no price impact for them as such. But, they are contend with the inadequate supply of agro-chemicals. As a result, weeding has to be done manually. Then, it involves labour cost. Labourers cannot also be found. We found farmers who have restricted their agricultural activities. Instead of cultivating two acres, they have opted for one because of such issues. I noticed maize cultivations overgrown with lantana bushes. Their maize cultivations yield less due to lack of fertilizer this time. They have planted genetically modified maize varieties , but no proper harvest due to lack of inputs.Also, tea small holders have been hit by the same crisis. Besides, I noticed those cultivating export crops such as cloves and pepper were engulfed in problems. They do not get seedlings to be planted in bare patches of their cultivated lands. They do not have fertiliser sufficiently and are not encouraged. Similarly affected are vegetable growers.
Eventually, the village economy has collapsed affecting other small businesses. Development activities such as construction of roads and irrigation tanks have come to a standstill. Many have lost their income sources as a result.
Q Apart from that, how sensitive are they to the political situation of the country?
They look sensitive to what is happening in the country in other aspects. They responded to us in this regard even before we raised them. They are concerned about new laws being planned. They remain alert on what is happening in the name of constitution making.
Instead of keeping promises made to people, the government seems to be acting otherwise. It was promised to abolish the executive presidency and to bring about new electoral reforms. The mandate is for that only. Instead of acting in this regard, people asked as to why there is discussion now on alterations to the National Flag and the National Anthem. People are extremely vigilant and aware.
QYou mentioned your programme is aimed at forming a new political movement. The general perception is however that it is a precursor to form a new political party to contest elections in future. What are your views?
Unlike in the past, the number of people, identifying themselves as diehard followers of certain political parties, have dwindled now. It has happened both at village and urban levels. It does not mean that people are detached from politics. People are enthusiastic about politics more than ever. They get updated on politics with information flowing from various sources including social media and websites. They indulge in political activities in different forms. There are different movements and organisations doing politics. They are not willing to get involved with any party directly.
People are concerned about three key matters- the curtailment of the fertilizer subsidy, the perceived effects of the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and the increase of the Value Added Tax. The segments of society, affected by these three issues, took to the street without motivation by any party as such. It was people’s spontaneous reaction. If political parties try to gain mileage out of it, genuine people may not like. They might quit the struggle. So, a national movement is needed to all such forces without making them cat’s paw of a political party. Both political forces and apolitical forces will rally behind it at the end.
QHowever, will the end result be a new party?
We cannot completely rule it out. Some movements, originated in other countries, evolved to be political parties later as the situation demands for facing elections. In 1956, the same scenario took place. Likewise, we witnessed the same at the January 8th election. We can achieve our final objectives within a governmental structure only. For that, we have to act within a legal frame for facing elections whenever it is needed.
Q Yet, the registration of a party cannot be done overnight. An election is likely to be conducted early next year. Therefore, how serious are you of forming a party?
We brace for it. We are ready to act according to the law governing election processes. An election is the democratic platform for all to express their stands. We remain ready for any eventuality. In case a referendum is announced, the need for a political party does not arise. Then, we need an organisational structure to campaign in case of a referendum declared in the country. There are as many as 36,000 villages with 14,000 Grama Niladhari Divisions. We have 11,000 polling stations.
If the local authorities’ election is declared, we will have to contest it.
QAgain, there is an allegation targeting you. It is an attempt to divide the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which is one of the oldest political parties in Sri Lanka.
How do you respond?
On the one hand, I can ask whether anything is left to be divided in the party. It is virtually divided now-with one section of it remaining with the government and the other sitting in the opposition under the banner of the Joint Opposition. Then, division is all clear. It happened shortly after the 100 day government formed consequent to the January8th election.
There were even two separate May Day rallies.
On the one hand, the SLFP means its founding principles: vision and mission. It is not confined to the name board and its headquarters. What is important is the representation of the party’s vision and mission. It is crystal clear where party people advocating its vision and mission remain. Those, commanding the official authority of the party, do not act upon the founding principles of the party.
The country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence are foremost important. For it, the past leaders S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Sirimawo Bandaranaike and Mahinda Rajapaksa stood for. Today, these policies are compromised.
The SLFP was founded for the benefit of ordinary masses. All have been betrayed today. Then, what is important is public support. With whom are people today? People are with the former President. It will be visible again during Pada Yatra. In that sense, the party is not divided actually. We showed our strength in Badulla. Then, the UNP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also came to Badulla after us. We showed that we took on the UNP.
QEarlier, you mentioned in an interview that you did not intend to do active politics again. Now, you seem to be acting otherwise. What are your views?
I will not contest elections. I have no intention for it. First, we will have to face the local government election. We should emerge stronger for it. Ahead of it, I indulge in various activities.
QWe heard different voices in the media against your role in the political work of the Joint Opposition. What is your response?
That criticism has faded now to a great extent. I learnt from their criticism and corrected myself. I stand corrected wherever necessary. I believe criticism emanating from our side is constructive. Then, I corrected my mistakes and shortcomings. As I accepted the responsibility for electorate defeat, I accepted such criticism.
Q How do the policies of a new political journey differ from those you followed when in power?
It is now obvious that what we did at that time were correct. In some areas, there were shortcomings. We will correct them step by step. People found reasons to defeat us.
QWhat are they actually?
It is convenient for me to show where we succeeded. It is known to everybody. We notice failures of the present government in some areas. Those are the very same areas where we did well. A failed story for this government was a success story for us at that time. People say the economy is in tatters today. It means we did well on the economic front. I feel happy because I was the Minister in charge of economic affairs at that time. Our policy on national security is held high by people. Our non- aligned policy is also hailed. We did development for the benefits of all segments of society, with a special focus on backward areas.
Q What are the shortcomings actually?
If I mention them, it will be construed negatively by others as targeting individuals. Some of the positive policies were painted negatively. We did a lot for environmental protection. We took measures for clean air, soil conservation and forest conservation. Our forest coverage was increased actually. But, people did not know these things. We can prove it with data. We cleaned the canal system in Colombo alone. We disposed garbage heaps. But, these activities were portrayed in the bad light.
It is we who acted against smoking and alcoholism. We banned media advertisements on alcohol and tobacco products. Later, we were slandered for not displaying pictorial warnings on cigarette packets.
As for the breakdown of the rule of law, the government, as a whole, we did not break laws. But, there were individuals who did it. Today, the Supreme Court also said the rule of law should not be allowed to be broken in the name of good governance.
Under the garb of good governance, the rule of law is violated by this government. During our time, it was only individuals who acted against the law, but not the government as a whole.
Also, we failed to enact legislation for the empowerment of citizens. We did not act in time in responding to the demands of civil society. We could not enact the right to information law. I do not say the bill enacted at the moment is the right one. It should have been made in a better form. We were insensitive to the concerns of the middle class and upper middle class people. We focused more on empowerment of people at the lower strata of society. Right to information and human rights are matters of concerns for the upper strata of society. We delayed addressing such concerns until the grievances of the lower segments are sorted out.
