State Minister of Highways Dilan Perera, who is also the spokesman of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) speaks about the current political situation, the challenges lying ahead for his party and the way forward. He shared the following with us:
How do you see the current political situation in the country?
Our country is not used to this kind of politics. The two main parties are together and govern. This is an experience. It was Mahinda Rajapaksa who really wanted to experience this first at that time. That is why he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United National Party (UNP) when he was the President. It is a coincidence that current President Maithripala Sirisena was the General Secretary who signed the MoU on behalf of the SLFP on that occasion. Malik Samarawickrama signed it on behalf of the UNP then. Unfortunately, it did not work. In the end, 17 UNPers led by their then Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya joined the MR government and became part of it.
This is the second time we experimented with this mode of governance. It happened this time because people did not give a clear mandate to any of the parties to form its own government at the last parliamentary election. It was up to President Sirisena with a mandate to rule for six years to get the two main parties together for a government because there was no absolute majority for any single party. President Sirisena asked the two major parties to sign a MoU for this. It has been signed for two years. At the end of 2017, we will see whether it has worked properly or not.
Earlier, the General Secretaries of the SLFP and the UNP – Ministers Duminda Dissanayake and Kabir Hashim respectively, announced that the unity government would serve its entire period though the MoU was meant for two years only. How realistic is it under the current
political climate?
It was announced as personal views of the two Secretaries. The official document was yet signed by the parties for two years. At the end of two years, the Central Committee of the SLFP will decide whether we can proceed together for three more years or not. The Central Committee only decided to enter into this MoU for two years. Then, it is up to the Central Committee of the party to decide whether to go further or not. Of course, the two Secretaries should be of the view that it could go for five years. Those personal views of the Secretaries would also be considered when the Central Committee meets for this purpose at the end of two years. The Central Committee is the official decision making body of the party.
In the past, you were one of the major critics of the UNP and its policies. How do you feel when you are with a government led by the UNP today?
It is very uncomfortable to be frank. I became an ardent critic of the UNP because I did not believe its economic policies and still, I am critical of its economic policies. But, there was something that kept on telling me from the day I joined politics that the stumbling block to bring about a settlement to the ethnic issue was the two main parties not agreeing all the time. Whenever, the SLFP-led 
government brought in proposals, the UNP opposed. Whenever the latter did so, the former opposed. When the people’s mandate forced us to govern together like this, I thought that the ethnic issue, the new electoral system, pruning of powers of the executive presidency could be looked at. The silver lining around the dark clouds with people like Dilan Perera working with the UNP is that the national issues could be addressed. Despite all that, it is rather uncomfortable for me to be with the UNP when it comes to economic and governing issues. I am not shocked that I am unconformable. When we served in the last government, it was our alliance partners such as Wimal Weerawansa and Patali Champika Ranawaka who started criticizing it. It was not the UNP. Some of them called Dr. P. B. Jayasundara an economic hit-man. Wimal Weerawansa even said three ‘Satakas’ were governing. He boycotted Cabinet meetings for ten consecutive weeks. When we formed governments with our comrades, we had problems. Naturally, we understand problems when we govern together with our traditional political enemy. But, we could probably solve the national question through this unity government. I feel this is the last chance. You would never get a chance like this again.
How confident are you that the two parties can get together and address this issue?
Well, I am optimistic. I have disagreements with the way Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe works. I totally disagree with the way some of his close friends work, and the way the Central Bank Bond issue was dealt with. I have strong disagreement with the manner in which the plan for the Port City was executed. I know it is a Private-Public Partnership. One never had such partnerships with an 80-20 ratio in equity. It has to be at least 60-20 ratio instead. I have issues with the PM’s behaviour in Parliament. But, at the Steering Committee, he is doing a tremendous amount of good work in bringing about Constitutional Reforms. He is magnificent and uses his political experience to get all the spoilers on board. He is trying to make it an inclusive process as much as possible. I must give the devil its due. Therefore I am optimistic.
"The former Central Bank Governor‘s term would have been extended if not for the fact that we were a part of this government. The Central Bank Bond issue, exposed by the COPE, was the biggest daylight robbery in the history of our country"
How could the two parties see eye to eye on power devolution then?
That is simple. The SLFP was a party for devolution. Of course, what we say is maximum devolution under the unitary system. We, in fact, formed ‘Sudu Nelum Movement’ led by me , Foreign affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera at that time was with us and former Chief Minister, late Bertie Premalal Dissanayake too was. We went all over the country talking to people that power devolution was not a monster. We said it was not a way for the division of the country. The SLFP always believed in some sort of power devolution. Since its inception, it has been a party that worked for all the communities. When the party was formed, it had three secretaries -- representing the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities. It was during the time of MR that the outside world got the impression that the SLFP policy was anti-Muslim and anti-Tamil. It was due to people like Wimal Weerawansa and Patalie Champika Ranawaka who projected their party status equal to SLFP. We always stick to the middle path. We have avoided the extreme left and the extreme right. It is in moderation. It means pro-devolution under the unitary system.
But, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is against the unitary system. They say power devolution is restricted under such system. How could you accommodate them?
Personally, I am one of a very few who bravely stand up and say Federalism will not divide the country. It is a way out of division. In today’s context in Sri Lanka, Federalism portraits a ghost for Sinhala people. But, I am asking my TNA friends as a person, who went out of the way to rally the support of Sinhala people for power devolution not to fight with words. I am appealing to them. I was even branded as a Sinhala Tiger. The word could be unitary or united. The words could be non Federal or Federal. What you need is practical devolution of power on the ground. We have the 13th Amendment which is an integral part of the Constitution under the unitary system. But, still, land and police powers have not been devolved. Let’s make things happen! Let’s make the 13th Amendment meaningful at least. Let’s take away the concurrent list. All these could be done despite the word ‘unitary’ remaining in the Constitution. In fact, we could have the Sinhalese word ‘Ekiya’ in the English version too. In South Africa, to get over such issues over terminologies, native words have been retained in the English version of the Constitution. That is to avoid war over words. When you fight over words, the apple cart is toppled down.
I am a person who is not scared of Federalism. It is not a bad word. It is not the stepping stone for division. India has proved it. It had worked well in a smaller country like Switzerland. Let’s not fight over words! Let’s fight over deeds!
There is a perception in the country now that the government would try to bring about a Constitution which is unitary in name but Federal in content. What are your views?
That cannot happen because we have a Supreme Court. When the 13th Amendment came up, it was the same fear instilled by the then Opposition. In fact, my party with its leader, late Sirmavo Bandaranaike, along with Dinesh Gunawardane and incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena went and sat under Bo Tree in Pettah. They even boycotted the Provincial Council elections. I, of course, became a part of it by contesting under the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party. Subsequently, the SLFP accepted it. The JVP’s armed wing even killed the candidates. Ultimately, they also became a part of it. This fearmongering was existent. This is the first time all the parties are united to bring about a solution.
If anyone in the Joint Opposition, with Satakaya or without, says he does not know anything, that particular person does not attend Parliament or read what is happening there.
"I have issues with the PM’s behaviour in Parliament. But, at the Steering Committee, he is doing a tremendous amount of good work in bringing about Constitutional Reforms. He is magnificent and uses his political experience to get all the spoilers on board. He is trying to make it an inclusive process as much as possible"
During a recent press conference, three UNP MPs were critical of the SLFPers holding posts in the government. They, in fact, asked them to leave if possible. How do you see this?
It’s very simple. We joined the government because our leader President Sirisena wanted to form it combining the major parties. That idea was put into the Central Committee. We have joined the government as per a decision by the Central Committee. We know we are a pain to some of the UNPers. Since we are in the unity government, some UNPers cannot act in their own way. The former Central Bank Governor‘s term would have been extended if not for the fact that we were a part of this government. The Central Bank Bond issue, exposed by the COPE, was the biggest daylight robbery in the history of our country. Some of the UNPers want us to go, so that they can cover it up. Those involved in the robbery are even paying monthly allowances to some individuals to safeguard them. They have gone to the extent of forming a media institution with the money they gained. We will expose all that. We will tell the public not to buy those newspapers, and not to watch their TV telecast, and not to listen to their radio. In the UNP, there are a majority of MPs who want a joint government. They do not want us to go. We will not listen to those few paid by those involved in the Bond scam. We are bound by the decisions taken by the Central Committee of the SLFP, and the President.
I would like to remind the UNPers that if not for President Sirisena, there would not have been a UNP Prime Minister. There would not have been one UNP Minister. We won’t go until such time the SLFP Central Committee decides so.
It means once the SLFP leaves, there won’t be a UNP government the very next day?
How could there be a UNP government? It is the leader of SLFP who should appoint the next PM.
How challenging is the formation of a new party under the blessings of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa?
Regarding the new party, the former President blows hot and cold. That has been his nature throughout his political career. A new party coming and trying to destroy the SLFP is not something new. It happened during the time of the Sirimavo Bandaranaike regime too.
The simple arithmetic is that any division of the party would be a gain for the other. I agree that the SLFP is swimming against the tide. We have taken a firm decision that we would not become a pawn of any communal group once again. We will build our party on SLFP principles, meant for all the ethnic and religious communities. At the next local authorities’ election, we will show that the SLFP is a party working on the Bandaranaike principles.
Does it mean that you could do well without the JO?
Well, I won’t say without the JO. Who is saying it is not with us? No SLFP MP in it has joined the new party. Just now, Sripada season has begun. It could be reached via two routes. One is via Ratnapura and the other via Hatton, Maskeliya and Nallatanniya. We are taking the Hatton-Maskeliya route and the others the Ratnapura route. We will meet up at Seethagangula and cleanse ourselves. Then, we will proceed with President Sirisena as Nade Gura (The leader of pilgrim group).
Are you trying to say that the two factions would unite at the local polls?
That is what the SLFPers want. I am not referring to the dealers of the UNP who are having underhand deals. The cases are filed against dealers. The dealer does not go to the remand prison. He goes to the merchant ward. He is suddenly granted leave to go to the USA. His houses and properties are found in Malwana and Matara, but no action has so far been taken.
For that unity, an understanding is needed between the former President and the current President. Would it be possible?
For that, we have senior politicians like Chamal Rajapaksa who has been accepted by all the SLFPers. He is the man who can work together with President Sirisena. We can make use of his rich experience to mend certain differences we have. That type of dialogue
is underway.
"Naturally, we understand problems when we govern together with our traditional political enemy. But, we could probably solve the national question through this unity government.
I feel this is the last chance. You would never get a chance like this again. "
