Opposition will not be in the opposition forever - Manju Sri Arangala

24 March 2014 05:29 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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United National Party (UNP) Colombo District leader Manju Sri Arangala is contesting for the upcoming Provincial Council Elections. He says that despite the city beautification, we have people in the Colombo District itself who do not have basic facilities.

If all the members hold the same opinion that means there is no democracy and there will be only a dictatorship. In this situation there are two sides. We only made an effort and to see its success it will take time. And I think it will be successful.

The roads are built for the benefit of the rulers and some earn large sum of money. The Government has nothing but corruption. Everything is under corruption. What people see is not the reality.

Q: As the former Opposition leader of the Western Provincial Council pressure is mounted on you. The UNP so far has not named a Chief Ministerial candidate. As a senior member of the party do you think the leadership council did justice to you?

As a member of the UNP, I respect any decision taken by the party. But I believe the party and the Leadership Council did justice for me as I am appointed as the team leader for the Colombo District.

Q: There are question raised about the leadership council both within the party and outside. What is your view on this?
That is a one characteristic of democracy. If all the members hold the same opinion that means there is no democracy and there will be only a dictatorship. In this situation there are two sides. We only made an effort and to see its success it will take time. And I think it will be successful.

Q: You are a representative for Homagama area. The area is underdeveloped. Certain areas do not have sufficient number of buses. What do you have to say about this?

The Government does not have a proper plan for development. The Government built a bus stand spending over Rs. 800 lakhs. It functioned only for 21 days. It started to sink and failed to cater to the needs of the people. The project is an utter failure. This is because the government does not have a national policy on these matters. People have become victims due to the rulers’ follies.

Q: What is your opinion with regard to Provincial Council? Is it actually a white elephant?
Look at the Colombo District leader for UPFA. Udaya Gammampila is someone who vehemently spoke against Provincial Councils and now he himself is contesting for the Provincial Council. If the Central Government is given powers and the Provincial Council given the power to steer the decisions taken by the Central Government then there would not be any issue. The issue comes if the decisions are taken by the Central Government and the Council does not have powers to work on the decisions taken then the Provincial Council will be a white elephant which is maintained at public cost.

Q: While the Opposition complains about the development, government argues that it had developed roads, city beautification, and development of infrastructure. Do you deny these as parameters for development of a country?
I do not deny that they are parameters of development. But the most important thing to be developed is the human resource. The government can build walking paths, the roads and city beautification. But that cannot please a hungry man. Flowers may look beautiful but these can not feed people.
The roads are built for the benefit of the rulers and some earn large sum of money. The Government has nothing but corruption. Everything is under corruption. What people see is not the reality.

Recently it has been revealed that around 80 baby elephants are under the possession of certain people. This is done with the government’s knowledge. The government has failed to safe guard the wild life. They show roads as development but they have forgotten and neglected many other areas that have to be developed.

Q: Do you think the current political system must be changed? If so in what way?
Definitely the present system must be changed. It was the UNP which introduced the preferential voting system. But observing the things that happen now, it is needed to restore the existed system. Also operation of the 17th amendment is a must. The system should be clean that the Government officials can act impartially and law enforcing officers can take decisions without any involvement of the government.

It was the UNP which introduced the preferential voting system. But observing the things that happen now, it is needed to restore the existed system. Also operation of the 17th amendment is a must. The system should be clean that the Government officials can act impartially and law enforcing officers can take decisions without any involvement of the government.

Q: Can you give a reason as to why the UNP is subjected to continuous election defeat. Where UNP does has gone wrong?
The main reason is that the Government kept on marketing the war. People tolerated everything because of the war. Even after the war they still blow their trumpets on the war victory. But the Government cannot be in power forever nor the Opposition be in the opposition forever. Tables will turn. The UNP will definitely win the upcoming election.

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Opposition will not be in the opposition forever - Manju Sri Arangala

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