Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife and Minister of Buddhasasana Gamini Jayawickrama Perera in an interview with Lankadeepa aired his views on the present political developments in the country and the death of tusker Dalapoottuwa. Following are excerpts of the interview with Minister Perera.
- I was with Mahinda Rajapaksa in the same boarding at Nalanda College
- In 2005 Ranil said that after he wins the Presidential Elections he would form a national Govt.
- Their (Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena) union is of no issue to us
- I told Ranil not to underestimate Mahinda and added that he was no pushover
- When there is a ward system the people can choose their own representative
Q Despite the fact that the Government believes in Yahaplanaya, the ‘green light’ to hold local Government elections was obtained after a severe battle.Your comments please.
There should be a fight for everything, otherwise victory isn’t possible. When there is a fight that will create an interest in all parties.
Q Holding elections at the correct time is a prime feature of Democracy. But didn’t this Government infringe on that right?
There are reasons. Let us go deep into the history. Mahinda Rajapakse after winning the 2010 Presidential elections invited our party to Temple Trees. At that time I was the Chairman of the Party and Ranil Wickremesinghe was the opposition leader and he was invited to discuss about delimitation, for the purpose of holding local council elections. He was also invited to discuss about the abolishing the Presidency.
For this discussion, Wickremesinghe, Tissa Attanayake, Joseph Michael Perera, Karu Jayasuriya and I participated. The other party in the discussion comprised the President, Maithripala Sirisena (then the secretary of the SLFP), Basil Rajapaksa, Dinesh Gunawardene and Nimal Siripala de Silva. As soon as the discussion began former President Rajapaksa said that we should adopt the Ward system of election and said that he would appoint a committee.
We will continue with this Government until 2025. The Minister of Finance introduced the Budget keeping with that plan. We will make this country one that’s developed.
Q Weren’t you too in the committee?
Yes myself, Tissa and Joseph Michael were there. They also opined that executive power should be vested with the Prime Minister. I raised a question. Can you remember that we signed an agreement after the 2005 Presidential Elections that we would support the Government for two years?
Q What made you arrive at that decision?
Because he didn’t have the majority in Parliament. I was the go between. I was with Mahinda Rajapaksa in the same boarding at Nalanda College. We were like buddies. He was younger to me. In 2005 Ranil said that after he wins the Presidential Elections he wished to form a national Government with the view of defeating the LTTE.
Q But Mahinda won?
Yes Mahinda won, but not in the right manner. As much as Rs 800 million was given to the LTTE. After that the LTTE prohibited people from casting their votes. Ranil was referred to as the cunning fox.
After the elections I told Ranil not to underestimate Mahinda Rajapaksa and added that he was no pushover. I told him further that you intended forming a national Government as promised during the elections, but you lost. If we now do not go in for a national Government Mahinda would win over some members from our group. Therefore allow me to discuss about forming a national Government.
Q So did Ranil give the OK?
Yes and after obtaining his approval I went for the discussions.
Q When was this?
It was about two or three weeks after the Presidential Elections. We signed an agreement at Temple Trees. Karu Jayasuriya signed on our behalf and Maithripala Sirisena signed on their behalf. Despite our signing Mahinda Rajapaksa wooed 16 members from our side including Karu Jayasuriya. I told Ranil Wickremesinghe to stop this and told Rukman Senanayake too. At that time the Opposition Leader was in Nepal.
Q Even though many attempted they couldn’t prevent the exodus.
Yes, no one listened. Our agreement was nullified by Mahinda Rajapaksa. I felt pity as I was the one who brokered this agreement.
Q You said that you raised a question at the discussions held in 2010.What was it?
Yes. The background to that question was the one I related. I said that ‘You’ (Rajapaska) had said that the Presidency would be abolished and elections would be held according to the ward system. I asked whether ‘you’ (Rajapakse) are genuine in this regard? My question even startled Ranil who was at the discussion.
Q What did President Mahinda say?
He retorted as to why I was inquiring about it? I replied when an agreement was in force why he had ‘poached’ some members from our group? A heated argument followed and he assured that he wouldn’t take any more members from our group.
Q But didn’t he backtrack?
Yes. Before the passing of twenty four hours he took Digambaran and Prabha Ganeshan. How can you trust such a leader? Therefore it is evident that the issue regarding Local Government Elections got dragged on not because of us, but because of an issue created by Mahinda Rajapaksa. Basil Rajapaksa handled the delimitation with the aim of ensuring victory for them. After we assumed power we detected this error and in correcting it a delay was caused.
Q What will happen at the elections?
We are going to win.
Q What will happen if Maithripala and Mahinda join. Don’t you think that still there are chances of such a move taking place?
Their union is of no issue to us. I remember listening to a television channel in the morning. In that programme Mahinda was asked whether he was going to join with someone. Mahinda responded by saying that he couldn’t forget how he was harassed at Temple Trees.
This goes to prove the hate he is carrying. President Maithripala is also aware of it. In the event they join they will fight each other and destroy the party. We have no issues with Maithripala. We will continue with this Government until 2025. The Minister of Finance introduced the Budget keeping with that plan. We will make this country one that’s developed. The two groups joining or not is not an issue for us.
Q If the UNP and SLFP contest this election separately, would the village get divided?
No it wouldn’t happen. why should it happen? This isn’t a General Election. It will be conducted using the ward system. I too emerged from the Gam Sabhawa in 1968. I contested from Bopitiya, my village, and entered politics. When there is a ward system the candidate contests from his own ward. The people can choose their own representative. Instead of party politics the masses can select the most popular person who can help them. Therefore the need to fight among each other would not arise.
Q Some are of the opinion that the progress of the national Government is zero.Your comments.
Please remember that one can’t be happy one hundred percent. We are repaying a massive loan on one side. We have to pay the installment and the interest and added to this there have been natural calamities which we have continually faced.
If the Rajapaksa Government was in power the people would have been compelled to eat grass. Why did Mahinda Rajapaksa opt for polls when he had two more years? He did that because he knew that the economy was in danger. He changed Central Bank statistics and presented bogus figures. Meanwhile the world was pressing us by imposing sanctions on us. He revealed a rosy picture to the world and gave false promises. The entire world became our enemies. It is fortunate that this Maithripala-Ranil Government came into power.
We gave an assurance that we would usher in a country devoid of fraud and corruption. When the Avant Garde issue surfaced Thilak Marapona resigned proving this fact.
Q While all this happened the Bond scam also surfaced.Your comments.
We never tried to cover it up. There were no commissions of this nature during the previous regime. There were white vans and journalists were murdered. No investigations were held. Billions were spent without Cabinet approval.
We gave an assurance that we would usher in a country devoid of fraud and corruption. When the Avant Garde issue surfaced Thilak Marapona resigned proving this fact.There were no charges made against him. Slinging of mud by newspapers is a common thing now.
Q Wijeyadasa was outspoken and lost his portfolio, didn’t he?
That was a different issue where he violated Cabinet collective responsibility. But he continues to be a member of the UNP. Ravi Karunanayake had an issue and he resigned. We set examples that were hitherto unheard of and unknown.
Q The pride of our nation Dala Poottuwa could not be saved by your regime.
Protecting a rare species like the Dala Poottuwa was a strenuous task. This Elephant never remained in one place, but roamed about. It was blind in one eye and it travelled about 20 -25 Kilometres every night. Wildlife officers were unable to follow this Elephant during it’s long nocturnal journeys. Anyway this incident did open our eyes to some extent. It is true that we could not protect the animal, but we were able to identify our strengths and weaknesses. We won’t allow a repetition of this nature.
