Opinion

Opposition trying to defame me: John Amaratunga

09 Aug 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

John Amaratunga, Minister of Public Order and Christian Affairs and Leader of the Gampaha district, is another popular contestant at the upcoming general elections. In a candid interview with the Daily Mirror, he shared what activities he has done under his Ministry, while expressing his views on the various allegations against him.

Q How is the election campaigning progressing?

The UNP is heading for a victory and the ultimate aim is to get 2/3rds majority in Parliament.

Q If you were elected, what would you promise to the people?

I’m putting out a development programme for the Gampaha District in addition to the manifesto that we have put out. I am confident that with the support of the President and the Prime Minister that we would be given this plan in a short period since the UNP will have plenty of support from the international community.

Q What activities were you able to do in your capacity as the Minister of Public Order and Christian Affairs?

The main departments under my Ministry were the Department of Police, Department of Immigration and Emigration, the Department of Registration of Persons, Dangerous Drugs Control Board and the Department of Christian Affairs. The most important thing we were able to achieve in the Department of Police was that we were able to liberate the police service from the crutches of political suppression which took place during the past regime. Today the police are independent and they can perform their duties without any political interference and sustain the dignity of service.
Besides that we were also able to fulfil some of their demands such as the issuing of motor cycles, promotion schemes and transfers devoid of political interference like in the past. We have now proposed to the cabinet that a police officer should be given a chance to retire after serving 22 and half years in the police service. In addition to that regular promotion boards will be held in the Department of Police. When taking the Department of Immigration and Emigration we have been able to look in to the issue of dual citizenship. This opportunity was only given to the kith and kin of the previous regime depriving the general public from seeking this opportunity.
We have also introduced the biometrics in to the passport to prevent duplications and impersonations. A new building for the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Department of Registration of Persons is now complete providing all facilities for the public to avoid any inconvenience, which they are facing now.

The Department of Registration of Persons has also obtained the biometric system in to the identity card to prevent any form of fraudulent or duplication of ID cards where we experienced some of the former UPFA members practicing during the previous regime.
In addition to that the Dangerous Drug Control Board we appointed a chairman who is a professional and a dynamic man who is determined to eradicate the drug menace from Sri Lanka. To which the former regime was responsible for. The operation of the drug board is to apprehend the importers, traffickers and addicts of dangerous drugs such as hashish, heroin and other types of dangerous drugs, which are in circulation.
The sad thing is that the UPFA has even nominated drug kingpins in to their list in Gampaha and Colombo. This shows that the former regime was thriving on the drug cartel and is striving to thrive on it. The board is very much concerned of educating all schoolchildren of the dangers in getting addicted to the drug menace.
The previous regime turned a blind eye in the inflow of drugs to the country, which is why it has spread to all parts of the country. I strongly recommend that we should implement the capital punishment for all those who are convicted of drug trafficking to which even the President has agreed. Under the Ministry of Christian Affairs I have assured peace and harmony within all religious denominations and within the Christian community in Sri Lanka.
Thanks to this government the Ministry of Christian Affairs has appointed a minister with a budgetary allocation to help and provide assistance to the Christian places of worship. Therefore the Christians are deeply appreciating this government for this opportunity. Some of the landmarks which I have been able to provide assistance include the Tewatte Basilica, which the Chinese government has undertaken at my request to do a concrete overall at a cost of approximately Rs.300 million. This initiative is under the purview of the Cardinal, Mr. Harry Jayawardena and I. The work is in progress.

Q Now that you mentioned this renovation carried out at the Tewatte Basilica, is it true that this project was given to the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. which has undertaken the Port City Project?

Our request was to the Chinese government they may have deployed one of their companies to attend to this matter. We have no specifications about the company. As long as our job is done then we have nothing else to worry about.

Q With regard to the issue of the sale of drugs to school children, what measures have you taken to eradicate this menace?

We have to protect these children from falling prey to this menace. A lot of programmes are now being carried out in different parts of the country and at the same time rehabilitation is also taking place.

Q There are rumours going round that one of the underworld gangs involved in the shooting that happened recently in Kotahena, was sent by you. Is it true?

I have no connection with the underworld. I don’t require the underworld because I have enough protection from the Department of Police. Therefore there is no necessity for me to resort to the underworld. This is mud-slinging by certain former Ministers and MPs of the previous regime in order to defame me.
It is the UPFA who nurtured and encouraged the underworld to support them in order to kill and harass people who were against the regime and the white van is a concrete example of such operations.

Q We saw the President appointing people alleged to be in peddling drugs as organizers in their respective electorates. Will it not encourage them to find a comfort zone in politics?

It is a very unfortunate situation to see that these type of people have been elected by the previous regime. At that time President Sirisena was not aware of these activities but he would have realised later. But I am sure that people will be able to defeat them this time and prevent them from getting involved in politics again.

Q As soon as the good governance regime gained victory on January 8 there was an incident at the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha and again this too was thrown in to your account. What really happened there?

I have nothing to do with that. It was an internal conflict about contracts and awarding of tenders between the Pradeshiya Sabha ministers and the Opposition. The Opposition is trying to sling mud at me because I am the leader of the UNP in Gampaha in order to defame me since the Gampaha district is heading for a huge majority in the forthcoming election.

Opinion

Opposition trying to defame me: John Amaratunga

Q How is the election campaigning progressing?

Q If you were elected, what would you promise to the people?

Q What activities were you able to do in your capacity as the Minister of Public Order and Christian Affairs?

Q Now that you mentioned this renovation carried out at the Tewatte Basilica, is it true that this project was given to the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. which has undertaken the Port City Project?

Q With regard to the issue of the sale of drugs to school children, what measures have you taken to eradicate this menace?

Q There are rumours going round that one of the underworld gangs involved in the shooting that happened recently in Kotahena, was sent by you. Is it true?

Q We saw the President appointing people alleged to be in peddling drugs as organizers in their respective electorates. Will it not encourage them to find a comfort zone in politics?

Q As soon as the good governance regime gained victory on January 8 there was an incident at the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha and again this too was thrown in to your account. What really happened there?

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