State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Employment and Business Development Shehan Semasinghe said that the Government service is still in fear of what had happened during the tenure of Yahapalana Government from 2015 to 2019. The State Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said some top Government officials had to go through severe hardships as a result of making decisions on behalf of the country and finally paved the way for them to be in jail.
The former Yahahapalana Government took politically motivated decisions to victimise the people and Government officials on political grounds. They were victimised depending on their political ideology. Therefore, that undue fear is still there among the Government service and that is a very unfortunate situation. On the other hand, there are very few Government officials who don’t provide adequate support to carry out the President’s “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” policy manifesto.
Excerpts
Q: What is the Government’s response to the statement issued by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam requesting Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila to resign by accepting the responsibility for causing hardships to the public through the recent fuel price hike?
A: I don’t think there is a response required from the Government. The President and the Prime Minister have already responded to this matter. I think that is all over now and there is no point in talking about it.
Q: The leaders of eight constituent parties of the Government issuing a statement have thoroughly condemned the attempt to put the blame on Minister Udaya Gammanpila regarding the fuel price hike. Your comments?
A: There was a concern raised by the SLPP General Secretary and the constituent parties of the Government have responded to it. However, the President and the Prime Minister intervened and sorted out the issue and explained as to why the fuel prices were increased. Now that has been done and I don’t think there is any issue pertaining to that.
Q: Certain sections including some Government lawmakers say it is unfair to increase fuel prices in a pandemic like this. Would you like to respond?
A: The fuel prices were increased as the world oil prices were going up. Actually, we didn’t adjust the fuel prices for the last 18 to 20 months. Since the time President Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power while having a pandemic, we have extended the concessions given to the people. This was one of the reasons that paved the way to increase the fuel prices. Actually, it would have been better if the fuel prices were not increased and there is no doubt about it. When you see, the other expenses of the Government have not been cut down at all. Our health sector provides Covid vaccination and other medicines while the Government also gives various other subsidies such as Samurdhi for elders and differently abled people. When we came to power the 15 percent VAT was brought down to eight percent. The entire IT sector was removed from income tax. The taxes to be paid by the agriculture, fisheries and construction sectors were also adjusted. Likewise, we have given relief to the maximum that we can.
When the Covid-19 pandemic came apart from medication, we have not heard anybody dying without medication in Sri Lanka. In 2020, we gave Rs. 5,000 allowance twice and we gave another Rs. 5,000 in April 2021. The Government bought whatever fruits and vegetables which could not be sold due to the pandemic. In addition, Rs. 10,000 worth dry rations are given to a house which is under quarantine.
The number of permanent and temporary quarantine centres have been increased. Fifty-three thousand graduates were recruited. Under the program launched to provide employment to 100,000 less educated youth, 33,000 have already been recruited. If you take the amount of recruitment, new bridges and highways are under construction and the ongoing development projects in villages, the Government has not curtailed even a single cent in welfare. However, the income of the Treasury has turned into zero because the tourism sector doesn’t move forward and the taxes including that of the Excise are very less. Despite the pandemic and the difficulties that the Government is going through, we have not passed on it to the people. I am not justifying the fuel price hike. It would have been better if it was not done but there are certain management decisions that the Government has to take.
Q: Those who have engaged in various sectors such as fisheries, transport and bakery are demanding to provide some concessions as the fuel hike has seriously affected their industries. Has the Government looked into this?
A: The moratoriums have been extended on the third stage as well. Whenever there were revenue losses, we gave allowances so that we could consider them. We are also trying our best to come out of this pandemic. We want Sri Lanka to be a Covid-free nation. We suppose the general masses will also support us in fulfilling that task. Because we are doing it for the benefit of the nation.
Q: Serious concerns have been raised on the decision to import 227 luxury vehicles when the country has faced a lot of economic hardships and the people are in dire straits. Has the Government decided to reverse the decision?
A: Yes. There will not be importation of vehicles for the Members of Parliament. But, don’t forget the fact that when those vehicles were ordered by the importers, the Opposition didn’t open their mouths. Until the Government cancelled it, they didn’t utter even a single word. When the Cabinet decided to cancel it only, the Opposition made a big hue and cry on it. Therefore, we should not forget to keep it in our mind as well.
Q: Ministers have complained that some top Government officials have not extended adequate support towards the Government’s development activities. Could you explain?
A: First of all, the Government service is still in fear of what had happened during the tenure of the Yahapalana Government from 2015 to 2019. Some top Government officials had to go through severe hardships as a result of making decisions on behalf of the country and finally paved the way for them to be in jail. Former Yahahapalana Government took politically motivated decisions to victimise people and Government officials on political grounds. They were victimised depending on their political ideology.
So, that undue fear is still there among the Government service and that is a very unfortunate situation. On the other hand, there are very few Government officials who don’t provide adequate support to carry out the President’s “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” policy manifesto. That is what even the President pointed out at a recent discussion.
Q: How do you view the allegation that there are some issues with regard to the Government’s Covid vaccination program and that it has been politicised?
A: For sure, it has not been politicised. Yes, there was a particular incident which we don’t agree on. We only saw an argument between a doctor and a Mayor which wouldn’t have occurred. We cannot comment on the incident behind that or other things occurred afterwards because we only saw that incident. We agree initially, there were some issues on the Covid vaccination program. Especially, those days there was no proper system in vaccination where the people used to queue up and had to wait for hours.
The first instance we got to know that Minister Namal Rajapaksa stepped in and coordinated the event between the political authority and the health sector because technically the decisions can be taken by the health sector. Therefore, Minister Rajapaksa coordinated and ensured that it was being put in order. Now the vaccination program has been developed and it will be further streamlined. So, what we experienced at the initial stage of vaccination has been resolved now.
Q: The media has reported that in certain areas the people have not received the Rs.5000 allowance given by the Government. Is there any truth in it?
A: In the first phase, we have given it to the Samurdhi beneficiaries. The rest of the people will be looked at afterwards. We have already given the Rs. 5000 allowance to 1.75 million families who are Samurdhi beneficiaries. The Government has spent almost Rs.8.5 billion for this.
Q: Health authorities say if the travel restrictions are imposed, there is no significant drop of the Covid-19 cases and they have stressed the need to implement stern rules and regulations to control the pandemic. Your comments?
A: With regard to restrictions, you need to have self-discipline among the general public as well. Because these restrictions are put in place for the benefit of the entire country and not for a specific category. So, it is the duty of all to ensure that we adhere to the restrictions which have been announced to control the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, you need a self-discipline activity as well. That is the reason as to why we have to extend the travel restrictions.
Q: Is there any fertiliser shortage as reported by the media? Has it affected paddy and other cultivation sectors?
A: If you take Anuradhapura, initially the amount of land cultivated in 2020 Yala season was less than 2021 Yala season. So, fertiliser was issued based on the 2020 Yala season but later the Agriculture Ministry increased it for the additional lands which were cultivated. At the moment, fertiliser distribution has not been stopped. It will be shifted to organic fertiliser and we will be one of the first countries to use organic fertilizer for cultivation. At present we have not made any fertiliser shortage. However, you can see different people with different motives have stocked fertiliser and sell it at very high prices.
Now the Consumer Protection Authority has started to conduct raids to trace them. It is good if the farmers also inform us if they come across the people who are storing fertiliser in an unauthorised manner. According to the Ministry of Agriculture sufficient stocks of fertiliser have been issued. At the same time, we can see the farmers in certain areas have not received fertiliser because the middlemen have stored fertiliser in an unauthorised manner to sell them higher prices at the next season.
Q: Will the adoption of a resolution on Sri Lanka by the European Parliament on June 10 have any adverse effect on our country?
A: It is very sad. I am also disappointed with their decision because the Opposition made the point to canvas for this. When the total commitment of the Government is made to control the Covid-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, the Opposition has used their propaganda machinery to influence the people to go against Sri Lanka likewise the EU resolution. So, it is a very pathetic story from the Opposition side. If the GSP Plus facility is there, it would be an added advantage to us. However, we know there are some countries who are not in the European Union but they are exporting a considerable amount of their products. So, we will continue to do our best to make sure that it will not have any adverse effect on us.
Q: There is an allegation that the Government has so far failed to bring the masterminds of the 2019 April Easter Sunday attacks to book. Your views?
A: Investigations are going on. The Covid-19 situation has delayed certain processes. Not only the investigation aspect but every aspect. Most surprising thing is those who could not prevent the Easter attacks are making comments. I think there are quite a number of people who have been arrested, questioned, detained and that the entire process is going on.
I would also agree the process has been slowed down. For example, if we take in an office, we can’t bring all the people to an office on a particular day due to the prevailing situation. So, things are being slowed down. If we take the Police who should do their duties in the Police stations are now on roads. So, things have to be changed depending on the situation. When we are fully concentrating on the Covid-19 pandemic, decisions taken in certain areas would be delayed.
Q: How do you view the attempt made by the UNP to nominate its Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to the UNP National List slot in Parliament?
A: We are not interested in it. I think the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa can be cautious of that and we are not interested.