This interview with President Maithripala Sirisena covers the controversial issues of the Paada Yathra,VAT Bill, Port City project and plans to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP). The President shared his views with our sister paper ‘The Sunday Lankadeepa’
QThe Joint Opposition (JO) staged a walk in protest of your government. What is your idea about the large crowd that took part?
Do you mean the crowd that walked? The figures produced by the organizers were all fake. The entire country knows how the crowd was brought in and what the actual figures were. It is pertinent to evaluate what the reasons were for this walk; the issue lies there. If there is an election around the corner, then there should be a purpose for such protest walk. Similar walks and protests are held all over the world to make political gains. What was the political end in this walk? When you take this entire group into account, the masses would seriously consider how clean the group involved were. Most of the organizers and leaders are facing serious charges on acts of corruption, frauds and illegal activities. Investigations are continuing.
Some have already been indicted before Courts. The main aim of this protest was to cause fear psychosis to the officials who handled those investigations, that means “we will be coming to power in the future, and the support of the masses amply demonstrate” This was their main aim and there is no second thought about it. If they had actually brought the crowd which they said they had, we can also bring double that crowd. At the beginning they wanted Hyde Park as this venue was normally chosen by those who were politically weak and it is a fact known to everyone. As it was not available, they opted for Lipton Circus knowing very well that even a small crowd could block the roads and create a traffic snarl. However, the people did not accept it as a success and they didn’t approve it. The organizers used their entire strength and force to bring in the crowds. They visited every electorate and spent lavishly in view to achieve this. This clearly shows what support they have at the grass-roots levels, and they showed how many out of the total population of 21 million were with them. Their main aim was to influence the police and the investigating officers and not to show patriotism.
My policy is not to sell profit-making State enterprises, which I always held and would continue to hold. The Mattala airport and the Hambantota harbour were built on loans obtained from China. We still owe them 900 million, which is our serious concern. Therefore, we are exploring all avenues to settle this loan without creating hardships to our people
Even Prabhakaran did this to boost up his morale. When he was losing the grip at the final stages of the war, he too gathered the people and built up a human shield to protect him and his fellow cadres. The security forces were able to marginalise the terrorists and spare the people and win the war. This act of the Opposition was purely to get over the difficult situation they are personally faced with.
Q But the JO maintains that 2 million people joined in their protest. If the government did not itself concern about it, why did they try to obtain injunctions through Courts to prevent this march and wasn’t it due to fear that Hyde Park was made out of bounds?
The Govt has no connection in this matter and it was the police that carried out their duties. In order to prevent any sorts of inconvenience or restrictions caused to the general public, the police had to intervene. The Govt had no fears about this march, they only condemned it as an act to create difficulties to the masses and earned public criticism. We instructed the police not to obstruct the crowd, which would lead to a breakdown in peace and harmony and let them allow to congregate at Campbell Park. Then people would have actually witnessed the number that they had brought. The question is about the quality, and this was something that lacked quality, something like a tasteless broiler!
QThere had been an incident of hooting at the party Headquarters. The JO denied any involvement and blamed some disruptors who had been behind it. Are you making any inquiries into this matter?
I did not inquire about it, and have no time to do. If they had hooted, then they had done it on themselves. Those who participated are still in the fold of the SLFP. The flags that were seen on both sides of the road were blue, and if they had hooted, it was like spitting on themselves, and that is the truth. Who was happy about this march? It was the UNP, they would have felt that this was an act to end the SLFP. Finally, the UNP was benefited by this act. When a group from the SLFP acted in a shameful manner, it would be a blessing to the UNP. The disciplinary committee of the party would take necessary action to this regard jointly with the Party Central Committee. Other than that, I do not get myself involved in these matters as decisions are taken collectively.
QWhat about the local Govt elections? There is a rumour that it would be postponed?
No one postponed these local elections after their periods end. There were issues over the implementation of the new local government act. The Govt has appointed a committee to look into these issues under the direction of the Commissioner of Elections. With the delimitation committee finalizing their work by the end of this year and early next year, we would conduct the polls. That is the correct position.
Those who received the letters had torn the photo copies of the originals and mentioned a former Kurunegala District Minister was behind this move
QA group of former local councillors in the Kurunegala District had publicly torn the letters requesting them to call over for interviews. Is the party contemplating taking action against them?
Those who received the letters had torn the photo copies of the originals and mentioned a former Kurunegala District Minister was behind this move. Those who destroyed those letters came for the interview on the following day bringing along with them the original letters!
QThe VAT Bill posed a serious threat to the Govt. and the Govt is compelled to withdraw every Bill that presented. There are queries from several quarters as to why cannot the Govt present a Bill properly?
There were certain lapses on the part of the Govt over the VAT Bill, which we humbly admit. The Prime Minister had already made a statement in Parliament that the shortcomings on the Bill would be scrutinised, rectified and presented once again. The proposed Amendments would be effected with the intention of allowing certain relief measures to the lower category in the business sector. We hope to adopt a system of taxation that would not place further burdens on the common masses.
QThere are only less than three months to bring in the next year’s budget proposals, and would the VAT Amendments be included in the new budget?
That matter would be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting, and most probably a situation that you have mentioned might take effect. These would be discussed at Cabinet level before any decisions are taken. With the introduction of a new Bill, the revenue that had already been earned from increased VAT may be subjected to further scrutiny and with the new Act, these may be rectified.
QOne of your ministers stated that the Port City project would be stalled. But now it appears that they are going to resume it. How did a project referred as harmful to the country, all of a sudden become beneficial?
According to the original agreement of the project, it cannot be revoked. If attempted to revoke, we would be forced to pay the Chinese Company 35 to 40 million dollars a month. So it has to continue. We have made several changes to this agreement. There was a clause, which we removed in the previous agreement stipulating that in the event of a natural disaster, any losses suffered by the Port City had to be borne by the Govt. There is a vast difference between the agreement entered into by the Rajapakse regime and the present amended one. Both these agreements are to be tabled in Parliament soon. Then people would realise the difference and figure out the changes that had been effected. We are doing all these with complete transparency.
QThere is a news to say that Mattala airport and Hambantota harbour would be handed over to China and the Sri Lankan Airlines to be sold. Don’t these indicate that State resources are being sold?
My policy is not to sell profit-making State enterprises, which I always held and would continue to hold. The Mattala airport and the Hambantota harbour were built on loans obtained from China. We still owe them 900 million, which is our serious concern. Therefore, we are exploring all avenues to settle this loan without creating hardships to our people. There is already an investment plan for the above and discussions are underway. We are aware of the need to continue our bilateral relationship without being a burden to the country and its economy.
QWhat is the present position of the new Constitution, new electoral system and abolishing of Presidency?
Agreement had been reached by the Parliamentary Committee especially set-up for this purpose. Initial work had commenced to abolish the Presidency and the new electoral system. There is an ongoing debate on whether to bring together the new Constitution and the new electoral system or bring them in separately. My proposal is to bring the new electoral system first, and after obtaining approval of the Parliament, to bring in the new Constitution. This work is now in progress.
QThere is now an allegation that the new Constitution would cease to give the prominent place to Buddhism it now enjoys and also the new Constitution would be catering to the needs of the non-nationals. What are your views on this?
This is a canard. No clauses relating to Buddhism in the present Constitution would be removed or reduced. These are a few malicious campaigns spread by the opponents of our Govt. The same people who said recently that we are going to construct a Bridge across Thalaimannar connecting India. We never discussed with India about such a proposal. There will never be a Bridge between India and our Sri Lanka. We will oppose if such a move of that nature crops up. I consider these allegations as political mudslinging.
QLocal government elections are now around the corner; followed by Provincial Council polls. Do you have any strategy to bring the SLFP to victory?
As SLFP, we are now moving in a different path as SLFP. Several committees have already been formed to achieve this. We have decided to hold the SLFP’s 65th anniversary in Kurunegala. By this time, all arrangements are now in place. The party’s new programme of action would be announced on that day. All parties represented in the Parliament, including the SLFP are to be invited. Our anniversary falls on Friday, September 2, 2016. Since the very same day the schools will be reopening after the vacation and the traffic congestion in the city being a working day, it had been decided to have the function in the Kurunegala town on September 4, in the afternoon and the new programme of action would also be announced. Thereafter a membership drive would also commence and an action programme would be in place to usher a future SLFP Govt. Several elections are to be held next year and SLFP is rearing up to face them. If there is anyone working against the party while continuing to be a member, the benefit would surely be for the UNP. Therefore, my earnest appeal is for everyone to join and work with unity and harmony.
