Former Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera told local media that he would hereafter act according to his vision and restart his political journey with those in whom he could repose his faith. Today, people are disillusioned and democracy is in peril while the economy is in doldrums, he said.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: What really led you to leave the election campaign with no prior hint or notice?
A: It was not a sudden decision at all but one made after serious thought considering the situation in the country during the corona crisis.
Q: But, you had already handed over the nominations in your capacity as Matara district leader.
A: Yes, of course. In short, I was really frustrated over the Presidential election results. We observed that the Gotabaya government was heading towards ruin and I thought it was not the time to leave politics. I returned to Sri Lanka from abroad only in January and took an interest in the political revulsions of the UNP.
I propose a sort of ‘formula’ to unite the different factions of the UNP, including those such as Malik Samarawickrema, Kabir Hashim and so on.
Q: What was your formula, the ‘Open Sesame’?
A: It was that Sajith Premadasa, should be made the leader of a new Alliance and Prime Minister as well. It was I who submitted this proposal to the Working Committee, after being unanimously approved by others.
That was how the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) came into being. However, none of us wanted to make the SJB, a separate political party.
Q: You all had proposed a political alliance but Sajith set up a political party.
A: We had planned an alliance under the parent party. Unfortunately, due to a dispute over the symbol, it turned out to be two parties.
Actually, when the majority of members in the party decided to join the SJB, I too submitted my nominations from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
Q: There is an allegation that your reference to Maha Sangha as ‘Sangha Kalli’ will deprive you of people’s ‘votes’.
A: Yes. It is not a casual reference as such. As a traditional Buddhist this was something that was revolting to me. I had spoken about it during Chandrika’s time as well. The subject of ‘Sanga Kalli’ has even entered the Sangha Sasana as well. As you said when I uttered such things some people, exclaimed, ‘Oh! My God, We would be defeated due to Mangala’s utterances’.
So I thought it would be better to join hands with those who stand for democratic principles.
Q: Vajira Abeywardene had said that it was a subtle move by Ranil Wickremesinghe which lured Mangala from the SJB.
A: Actually. It was due mainly to persons such as Vajira Abeywardene that most competent hands had quit the Party.
It was my own decision which I took after much serious thought but certainly not after consulting anybody. It was a moral responsibility on my part to meet Sajith Premadasa to let him know my decision as he had reposed great faith in me. Subsequently, I also met Eran Wickremaratne and Ranjith Maddumabandara and made them aware of my decision.
Q: You met Ranil Wickremasinghe as well!
A: Yes. In fact, I met him and informed him of my decision. That is all. What I say is that people such as the Vajiras are only leeches who try to gain political mileage!
Q: According to you who is responsible for the bifurcation of the UNP? Is it Ranil or Sajith?
A: Nobody liked such a split in the UNP. There were certain extremists on both sides. There is another group aspiring for leadership of the breakaway faction. On the whole, nobody desired a split in the party but eventually the dispute over the symbol, caused the split. That was a big problem for me. I had launched a program for unity within the party after I returned to the country but the dispute over the symbol turned to be the stumbling block due to the intransigence on both sides. However, I entertained the hope that if ever there would be a judicial decision for new nominations when the elections were being postponed during the corona virus, there would be the possibility to unite the two rival factions.
Q: Some people allege that you made your ‘somersault’ anticipating the inevitable defeat?
A: I am not one who had retreated in the face of defeat. In my private as well as political life I have experienced enough pain of defeat. In each such instance, I made such defeat the foundation for my next victory. If I contest this time surely I could break my own previous record!
Q: In an interview with you after Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated in 2015 you said, “Hereafter, nobody from Medamulana would ever be elected to Parliament”. But today the Rajapaksa cluster is running the country. You are politically defeated and as such you are leaving politics?
A: Of course, that is one reason. Our program turned out to be a failure. In 2015, the masses gave us an overwhelming mandate having reposed their trust in Maithripala Sirisena.
Our failures in certain spheres, despite a considerable volume of work we completed, we lost. Maithripala Sirisena is responsible for this situation and it was he who paved the path for the Rajapaksas’ return.
Q: What is your next move?
A: Hereafter, I will act according to my vision and re-start my political journey with those in whom I could repose my faith in.
Today people are disillusioned and democracy is in peril while the economy is the in doldrums. Unemployment and hunger would reach uncontrollable proportions. The government is forced towards militarisation and repression. Even if there is no strong opposition at present it will be a victory for the country to ensure a strong people’s voice to which I am dedicated.
Translated by Michael Kittanpahuwa