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I am a success because I am single - Jayantha de Silva ....
Q: You are an experienced politician. Tell us about your political journey? Yes, I have been engaged in politics for almost five decades. When I was a youth I engaged in a lot of youth activities. “Pragna Pradeepa Foundation” is also a brainchild of mine. I started the foundation in order to help those talented but could not shine due to poverty. I got elected to the Combo Municipal Council (CMC) in 1976 and received second highest number of votes. I contested for the Municipal Council in 1983 and 1989 too. Then I contested the Provincial Council elections in 1999. This is the fourth time I am contesting for the Provincial Council. Q: You represent Borella, an area where many people are living in underprivileged conditions. What did you do for them? I provided an immense service to them. I improved the living conditions of the people who lived in shanties, especially in Wanathamulla and other areas. Those people were living in a very small uncomfortable place without even proper sanitary facilities. I took an active part in giving houses to them. With the help of the UNP Government then, we were able to give 800 houses to poverty-stricken people who did not have the means to afford housing. I am unmarried. Without thinking of myself I have been serving the people throughout my life. Maybe the success behind my political journey is the fact that I remained unmarried. My house is open to anyone. I would help whoever comes to me seeking help. That is the kind of service I have been doing. My service is not limited only for elections. It is a continuous service. .jpg) I improved the living conditions of the people who lived in shanties, especially in Wanathamulla and other areas. Those people were living in a very small uncomfortable place without even proper sanitary facilities. I took an active part in giving houses to themQ: You have been helping and being active in helping many students in the Colombo district. What is your opinion about the fast-growing International Schools? I am not at all happy with the conditions of these International schools. These schools do not teach values and culture to students. The students who are admitted to these schools may belong to privileged and wealthy families but they lack values. There are circumstances where these children have become nuisance to their families as well as to society. I believe this system has to be changed. If the government schools are more developed and equipped with more facilities then people would not go after international schools. Sometime the parents have to admit their children to private institutions due to the high competition in gaining admission to Government schools. Q: The area you represent is well-known for the high number of drug addicts therein. What do you have to say about it? Yes I do accept that there are many drug addicts in the area. But how can we stop this when there are certain people attached to the government bring drugs into the country? Even the Police cannot stop the drug menace. The most pathetic part is that many youngsters have become victims of drugs. This is definitely a threat to the country. I have tried my level best to address this issue. But if I have more power, I know I can do more in this regard. I am unmarried. Without thinking of myself I have been serving the people throughout my life. Maybe the success behind my political journey is the fact that I remained unmarried. My house is open to anyone.jpg) Q: What is your opinion with regard to the Government’s foreign policy?I am not happy with the policy followed by the Government. I believe they need to follow a more advanced way of approaching other countries. The Government did not handle the International Community well. I would say the Government’s foreign policy is not successful. Q: If the Government or any other party invites you to join with them to work with them with more power, would you consider? I have received many invitations from the Government to join them, which I always refused. I respect the United National Party’s policies. Our party always gave opportunity to young people. A lot of youth have got the opportunity to contest for elections this time too. They may not come from political backgrounds but they are talented. Our party has a vision. Therefore I will be with the UNP always. Q: But there are many conflicts within the party. Do you still think it is wise to stay with the UNP? They are false statements. Any party can have conflicts and even the Government has. But they highlight the issues we have. I have always been with the UNP and it will always be my party. |
Q: You are the President of the Self-Employees’ Federations. What have you done for this community? I did my best to improve the conditions of the self-employed. They are a sect of people who are always tortured in society. They have to engage in their profession under all weather conditions, without any proper place to carry on their work. We also managed to give concessions to vendors who sell their wares at fairs. For example, we have been able to develop the Delkanda, Colombo, Homagama and Hanwella fairs and the vendors can engage in their professions without any obstructions. They are given shelter and space. The customers have also benefitted by this. There are many people who buy their daily rations from these. Now they also have the opportunity to make their purchases without much trouble. Earlier, the street vendors had to face many issues - they were even locked up by the police. But now we have given Dimo “Batta” Lorries which they can operate as mobile shops and also three-wheelers which function as mobile shops. With the help of the government we commenced a loan system for the self-employed. All this was done for the less privileged and I am happy that I could do these things for them. Earlier, the street vendors had to face many issues - they were even locked up by the police. But now we have given Dimo “Batta” lorries and also three-wheelers which they can operate as mobile shopsQ: The opposition always blames the government that the so called development in the country is only the construction of roads. What is your opinion in this regard? Our country suffered from a 30-year war, a fact which everybody knows. But with the wave of development that hit the country, the country had a huge flow of foreigners. It is mandatory to develop the infrastructure of the country as that is one of the signs of a developed nation and it is also essential for tourism industry. How can they say that they do not benefit from the Colombo-Galle highway? How many hours do they save by this? Also, their argument is pointless. The government has done a lot more than building roads. The city beautification projects, electricity facilities etc. For example look at Colombo city - a city which is under the UNP, but it is one of the most developed cities in Sri Lanka. The Government did not consider whether it was under the UNP, but only looked at the city development. I must also say that it’s the government which has come forward to resolve garbage issue also. So these arguments by the opposition have no base. Q: There is so much unemployment in the country; are you contented with the jobs given by the government to the youth? Apart from the government and private sector around fifty percent of the people are self-employed. I believe they need more support; it would have been better if they have a different bank or a bank system which can cater to their level. In deed the government has done a lot towards youth in giving job opportunities and upliftment of their lifestyles. I appreciate that. Yet I think much needs to be done for self employed people. I want to work for people - people who are underprivileged. I have no intention to be the chief minister. The party will decide who the chief minister should beQ: At one of the television programmes you said that the UNP has neither men nor women. What did you mean by this? The UNP has failed to give opportunity to talented people who deserve positions in the party. Ranil Wickremesinghe is not a strong opposition leader. Members from my own party like to have him as an opposition leader because our party’s popularity escalates thanks to him. Personally, I too like to have him as the opposition leader. But we need to have a strong opposition. The UNP knows that they cannot get into power. Therefore they try to get attention from the international community. The recent topic for them to accuse government is “drugs”. The reason is because there were many raids and the officials were able to catch the culprits who brought drugs into the country. But the opposition tries to show that the country has drugs like peanuts everywhere and try to show that this is a haven for drug addicts. It is shameful. It is sad because the UNP is a party which had strong leaders and strong roots. But the present state of the party is appalling. Look at the Leadership Council they appointed. The party members themselves had issues about the key people in that. Even to our party, at the nomination committee stages there were many who came in such as actresses, songstresses etc. But our party had the backbone to select the talented. The UNP lacks this. .jpg) Q: At one stage you said that “everybody is a chief minister and I am only a councillor”. Are you being rejected by the UPFA? There are many people who claim to be the chief minister. Unfortunately some people from my own party who claim that they would be the next chief minister failed to build even a bus halt in Homagama. That project has been a failure. Even the President seems to be fed up with such people. I want to work for people - people who are underprivileged. I have no intention to be the chief minister. The party will decide who the chief minister should be. The voters should not vote for beauty, physique or for sympathy. They must always look at the candidates who have done a service to them. They may contest from the UPFA or UNP or any other party. The people must remember that the fanciful treats they are receiving from certain candidates will not be available after March 29. |
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