UPFA Kandy District Parliamentarian Keheliya Rambukwella said that the outcome reflected by the Presidential Election result was that the majority of the people realised that the former Yahapalana administration was one of the most inefficient and what they did in the context of national security, economy, agriculture, education as well as the higher education sectors was a dismal failure. In an interview with the Sunday Observer, MP Rambukwella said apart from that, the law and order situation, judicial activities and setting up new units to witch-hunt the political opponents and all such things together reflected badly on that Government. He said Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the SLPP Presidential Candidate gave the assurance to the people that national security would be given top priority over all others and in consequence he got almost 7 million votes in addition to securing over 1.4 million majority votes.
Q. How do you explain the final Presidential Election result which amounts to a big social and political change in the country?
A. Yes, of course. There is a big political change. SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa got almost 7 million votes and also secured over 1.4 million majority votes. I think the people expected that change over a period of time. What the Yahapalana Government did in national security, economy, agriculture, education and higher education sectors was a total failure. Apart from that, the law and order situation, judicial activities and setting up new units to witch-hunt the political opponents and all such things together reflected badly on that Government. The former Government could not deliver as they expected to following the Central Bank bond issue and down to various other things such as Mahapola Fund irregularities. Basically, the result reflects that the majority of the people realised that this administration was one of the most inefficient. Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the SLPP Presidential Candidate gave the assurance to the people that the national security will be given top priority over all others.
Q. What went wrong with the Yahapalana Government?
A. I think from A to Z, they were wrong. There is nothing to say that they were good. They were very revengeful. Their only way was to take revenge and they even created institutions for it. In fact, they pressurised the Bribery Commissioner, Head of the FCID and the AG’s Department. It was much beyond the limit of giving a call to somebody. Much pressure was exerted from Temple Trees and there was even an office operating from there for witch-hunting. Some politicians were there to invent reasons if there were no valid reasons to put political opponents behind the bars. Even some Buddhist monks were remanded. For example, a very famous Bhikkhu was remanded for keeping an elephant in his possession. I suppose that really went against the Government. If you make an analysis of the five year tenure of the Government, what have they done to the economy, agriculture, education and higher education? The accusations are there for all these sectors. Obviously, the entire mechanism of governance was a failure.
Q. Would you like to comment on the political behaviour of certain politicians of the New Democratic Front (NDF)?
A. That was the most humiliating political campaign they carried out. Politicians such as Rajitha Senaratne introduced some person as the driver who is behind the ‘white van’ story. The entire content of one of the media briefings of the US State Department had been completely distorted and many people were really upset over that statement. So, it was a shameless campaign on the part of the UNP which completely affected the election results. I suppose right-minded UNPers who inherited the UNP principles of D.S.Senanayake would have definitely looked back and wondered that this is not the UNP that they used to be proud of. It is something to be ashamed of.
Q. Could you elaborate how the minority vote did not matter much in the victory of SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa?
A. We were not even willing to look at TNA MP Sumanthiran’s statement that put forward certain conditions. We rejected it outright. NDF Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa accepted those TNA conditions which were recorded in the UNP Working Committee to bring a new Constitution. The new constitution is what Sumanthiran had drafted and sent across.
Q. Is it not the UNP itself that defeated Sajith Premadasa rather than he being defeated by the electorate?
A. Every time the UNP platform gave us enough material for the next step. There are various other things which also led to their defeat. I can elaborate on it for hours and they are known facts now.
Q. As confessed by certain prominent UNP politicians was it not the withering attack on Buddhism and the Bhikkhus by some UNP politicians such as Mangala Samaraweera the main reason for the defeat of NDF Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa?
A. Yes. That was a part of it. One of the major campaigners of Sajith Premadasa was Mangala Samaraweera. Not only was Mangala Samaraweera on the stage but there were so many people who spoke about jumpers and various other acts of taking revenge from Rajapaksas. Obviously, Sajith Premadasa didn’t have the courage to tell them this is not what we want. Basically, it is a question of your own supporters who resorted to such withering attacks. I know very well the election platform of SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sometimes, for various reasons he used to tell the people ‘this is not what I want’. The supporters of Sajith Premadasa did what they want. Therefore, the people could look at Sajith Premadasa’s team who came out with various stories and slogans to damage the entire nation on his own platform.
Q. What would have been the situation in the country today had the mud-slinging campaign including Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s citizenship issue and court cases succeeded?
A. It would have been a disaster. We will not camouflage or there is nothing to hide. They were the people who fabricated stories and even court cases. In their own reading which they analysed, they knew that Gotabaya Rajapaksa was going to win.
The only way that could be prevented was by taking him on technical grounds and making his candidature null and void. They did everything possible to succeed in their evil efforts. Obviously, they knew that Gotabaya Rajapaksa was going to win.
Q. Could you enlighten the country on the role played by the NGOs, Civil Society organisations and the so called patriotic movements during the Presidential Election?
A. As we know, there were so many people who went to courts and some of them have already left the country. Everybody knows many of them were funded by the super powers. It was obvious that so many Sri Lankans domiciled in foreign countries came to Sri Lanka just for one day to vote.
They wanted to put an end to extremist activities in the country and they didn’t want to give even a single vote to those who promote extremism. They want to somehow stop these unwarranted activities.
Q. The post election dispute within the UNP has led to the resignation of several leading Ministers and finally the Prime Minister himself. Is this something which has been simmering for a long time or a sudden quake?
A. As far as Ranil Wickremesinghe faction is concerned, they knew the defeat was impending. But I don’t think Sajith Premadasa faction ever had any knowledge about this result.
They wanted the Prime Minister to resign and give up. I think the Sajith Premadasa faction is looking for the Opposition Leader’s post and this internal fight within the UNP will continue in the near future as well.
Q. Certain steps already taken by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa such as displaying only the state emblem in the Government departments, cutting down the PSD staff and reducing the backup vehicle fleet auger well for good governance. Your views?
A. You don’t have to be advertising yourself saying good governance. The President is telling the country that there is no point in labeling yourself as good governance. What happens right now is that the people feel quite happy and the good governance has dawned now. Obviously, the President will continue with this practice of good governance.
Q. President Maithripala Sirisena’s policy to stand neutral largely ensured a free and fair election. Your comments?
A. If you look at the previous elections, you may recollect that the National Identity Card was made a must by the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration to thwart many manipulated incidents. It was a gradual process that we launched. With the National Identity Card being made compulsory, the poll rigging could be done away with by 99 percent. Obviously, we gave a good start but there are a few improvements. If we didn’t give the right start, this would have not happened.
However, we don’t take off the credit of former President Maithripala Sirisena who stood neutral to ensure a free and fair election. We should also give credit to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who made the National Identity Card compulsory during elections.