I am a fighter, not a quitter - Ranjan Ramanayaka

United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian, Ranjan Ramanayaka made a politically audacious statement that he was willing to be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the Western Province in the upcoming elections. Despite all the media attention he is not in the UNP list for the Western Province. In a discussion with the Daily Mirror he said he volunteered on behalf of the party and was willing to take any “suicidal move” on behalf of the party in the future as well.

Q:  Although you made a statement creating media attraction that you were willing to be the Chief Ministerial candidate sacrificing your seat in the Parliament you are nowhere in the list. Why is that?
I made such a statement at that time because there was no special figure chosen to be the Chief Ministerial candidate. Therefore on behalf of the party I volunteered. But the party leadership along with the leadership council decided that I must stay in the parliament and represent the candidates who are in the Provincial Council and new candidates to the elections.



Q:  You did not have any pressure at all from the Party to withdraw your request?
No there was’nt any sort of pressure from the Party and that is in fact a wise decision taken by the party. The leadership decided to keep the fighters and persuasive speakers in the parliament.



Q: Does that mean that the UNP is presenting non-fighters for the upcoming Parliamentary elections?
No I did’nt mean to say that. The Party decided to put forward the existing fighters in the Provincial Council to the fray without forwarding the members in the Parliament. This is a wise decision taken by the Party. They wanted to keep the people who raise voices in the parliament without transferring them. But I have to say that if the Party wants me to contest for the Provincial Council in the future I am willing to do so even if I have to sacrifice my seat in Parliament.



Q: There were reports published that the party wanted you to contest for the Southern Provincial Council. Is this true? In the past also this has happened. Although you are from the Katana electorate you had to contest from Ratnapura.
I am surprised to hear that. I only informed I would contest for the Western Province from Colombo district. There was no discussion about my candidacy in Southern Provincial council.

Yes although I am from the Katana area I was requested to contest from Ratnapura. I have not brought containers of ethanol or drugs into the country and am clean. I can contest from any area of this country and I have no issue about it. Past election results are clear evidence of the people’s faith in me.



Q:  As an Artiste cum Politician what is your opinion with regard to artistes’ entrance into politics?
There seems to be a trend developed that artistes enter politics. And of course I am an artiste who later joined politics. People might look at this from different angles. But there are many artistes who have succeeded in the field of politics. For instance characters like Ronald Reagan and Gamini Fonseka are great examples.
Unfortunately some of the actresses who enter politics do not seem to know what they are doing. Some do not even know the basics of politics. For them the 13th amendment, 17th amendment is news. Some even tarnished reputations when they were being interviewed at certain channels. This badly reflects on the rest of the female artistes who join politics. They seem to be ignorant about Sri Lankan history and even their respective party’s history.
But on the other hand, male artistes have a better response than female artistes, because of great personalities like Gamini Fonseka. People have an excellent image of them.

My personal view with regard to this is we should not pressurise newcomers to politics. Let them have an opportunity. We need characters like Condoleezza Rice, Ronald Regan in our parliament. Do not judge everybody from the same point of view.



Q:  What is your stance about UNPs situation amidst many conflicts?
The government is highlighting the conflicts in the UNP in order to cover up their conflicts. When you look at world history, throughout, the leaders, especially from the opposition, face issues. For instance in Russia, China and even Korea we can see conflicts like these.
The Government is conducting a rule similar to Gaddafi or Idi Amin’s rule. Nobody wants to speak up for injustice. People who have spoken out were silenced. They do not have outstanding candidates in their parties. Most of the candidates they have are those who were in the opposition, in the UNP.  The real problem is within the party in power.

If they have 90 percent of internal conflicts, UNP has only around twenty five percent. But to cover up their issue they point out the minor issues we have. The truth is the Government has a lot of issues which are out of their hands, but they are not willing to admit.  They try to shield their bureaucracy.