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Govt. will go on till 2020

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25 January 2017 08:47 am - 0     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, in an interview with Dailymirror , says that the unity government was productive for the country. He said it would serve its full term despite any odds. The excerpts of the interview: 

 

QHow do you see the current political developments especially in the context of unrest between the two main parties?
This is not a traditional form of governance in Sri Lanka. For the first time, the two main parties- the United National Party(UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP)- have joined hands to form the national unity government. We act accordingly. We put the country before self. 
We do not look at problems purely from a political angle. 


We have achieved a lot since we joined the government as the SLFP. We managed to re-establish our diplomatic ties which remained strained in the past. We gained some form of relief at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in respect of allegations against us. Also, we secured a lift of the ban on fish exports to the markets in the European Union. We are now about to get the GSP plus. All these will translate into the good of the country at the end. These are positive developments.   
QThough you talk about a bilateral approach, we see the UNP economic policies being implemented in main disregarding the left leaning policies of the SLFP. How do you feel about them?
The SLFP cannot implement its own policies. Likewise, the UNP cannot have its own way. The UNP comes up with its policy projects. Yet, when it comes to implementation of them, we reach a common position. Mostly, it has been proposed to form joint ventures for the revitalization of state institutions on the Private Public Partnership (PPP) model. A long list of institutions had been prepared to be covered under it. But, we managed to reduce it after talks with each other. We do not mind partnering with the private sector for the revitalization of state institutions. For example, SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka can be taken. During our time, we ran them at huge losses. We are not opposed to the PPP model for revamping them under the current administration. We are against the privatization of state institutions which are profitable at the moment.   


We were able to omit some such profit making state institutions from the list, initially for consideration under the PPP model. It could be done because the SLFP was party to the government. We reached the middle path.  


As for the national carrier, we acquired it during our time from the private investor ‘Emirates.’ At that time, it was making profits. By the time, we ended our rule, it had sustained enormous losses. Ordinary people only see planes flying overhead. They do not  even go near aircraft. However, they all pay taxes to maintain the airline, when they buy their daily essential items from the market. We need not object to them being restructured under the PPP model.   


QThe two parties are unable to see eye to eye on the proposed constitution. How soon can you reach consensus?

One cannot rush through in constitution-making. This has been discussed. We hope we will be able to reach consensus. We are for constitutional reforms. All the parties have submitted their views on them. Nothing is being done in secrecy. Public views are also entertained. We are for a system that enjoys the consent of the people. We remain in that position.   


QWhat is your party’s position on power devolution?
 We believe in power devolution. There is no change in that position. However, the unitary status of the country should not be compromised. We are not for the amalgamation of two or more provinces in any part of the country. We are not for anything that leads to the partition of the country. There is no compromise on the foremost position assigned to Buddhism. There is a separate committee working in this regard. We will come up with our stand at the right time.  


QWhat is your position on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution? 
We have to implement it.   


QDoes it mean land and police powers should be devolved?
We have to devolve them to some extent. That is all. If we stick to the current status, there will be no use of talking about constitutional reforms. During our time, we even promised to devolve power beyond the 13th Amendment. We even talked about 13 plus. Now, there are allegations. We do not go for 13 plus.   


QThe UNP MPs, in their press conferences, asked the SLFP MPs to quit the government. What did you feel at that time? 
They are not mature politicians. They are just newcomers. They lack political understanding. Some of our MPs also responded to them. We did not hear such remarks being made by the UNP leadership or anyone in the party hierarchy. We do not care about such remarks. We know that even the UNP new-comers are disillusioned. They also entered Parliament for the first time with a lot of hopes. They are not in a position to implement all that they want. We ignore such voices of a handful of MPs.  
 The UNP leadership informed us that these MPs were warned.

 The leadership also assured that it would not leave room for the repetition of such acts in the future.   
We actually took it up with the leaders of the UNP. There were similar allegations against some of our members as well. Both sides agreed that such diatribes would not happen in the future.   


QHow do you see the future of the unity government?
As I said earlier, this is not a government run by a single executive authority. In the past, the President and the Prime Minister belonged to the same party. Now the situation is different. Today, it is more democratic. In the past, the cabinet meetings lasted only for half an hour. Now it is dragged for two or three hours with arguments and counter arguments in a healthy sense. Cabinet papers are broadly discussed. It is a positive development.   


QSome say it has hampered the decision making process. What is your response?
It is not true. It is always the correct decision that is made. In the past, it led to wrong decisions on some occasions. Decisions were rushed in. Had we averted losses of SriLankan Airlines, we could have built yet another airport without a loan from anyone.   


QDoes it mean the unity government will serve its full term?
There is no question about it. Some people talk about toppling the government today or tomorrow. That is needed to please their supporters. This is not a problem. It is impossible to topple this government till 2020. An election is due only at that time. Before that, it is not realistic.  

 
QHowever, State Minister Dilan Perera who is the media spokesperson of your party said that the Central Committee would meet later this year and decide on the future of the national government. What is your position?
As of now, our General Secretary Minister Duminda Dissanayake announced to the country that the government would serve its term till 2020. The Central Committee of the party has to give formal effect to this statement. We will take that decision at the Central Committee meeting.

  
QIs that to go on till 2020?

We cannot allow the country to be de-stabilized.   


QHow are you planning to contest for the upcoming local government elections?
We, the SLFP, will contest separately. We have proposed to contest under the hand symbol of our party. If there is a strong demand from the like-minded parties to contest under the betel symbol of the UPFA, we will not make an issue out of it. After the elections, we will again implement the national government concept.   


QHowever, there is a possibility of supporters of the two parties being pitted against each other at such an election threatening the stability of the unity government. How do you respond?
No, no, those are not major issues.   


QAs the Fisheries Minister, how do you intend to resolve this fisheries issue with India?
We had cordial and fruitful talks with the Indian Minister. For the first time, the Indian side realized that bottom trawling was harmful. Since then, they do not issue licences for it. They have proposed a plan to address this issue in a phased out manner. They have converted 92 boats for deep sea fishing since then. They promote aqua culture.   


QWhat have you done to stop encroaching by Indian fishermen?  
It has stopped by 50 percent as of now.    


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