Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the ongoing dialog among the constituent parties in the Government is good. If the Opposition sees this as a crisis within the Government, the people will finally get the best result out of it. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that he is hundred percent sure that all coalition parties of the Government would extend their support to defeat the main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) sponsored No Confidence Motion against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila in Parliament.
The Minister said the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led alliance consists of so many political parties that each party may have their own political ideologies. That is the true democracy but finally what is best for the country would come out.
At present all 151 MPs in the Government are fully with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. If there is an internal dialog on the certain decisions taken by the SLPP that would never become a crisis within the Government.
Excerpts
Q: Is there any truth in the media speculation that Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa will be sworn in as a Member of Parliament on July 8.
A: SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa has not yet made any official statement confirming that he would come to Parliament on July 08.
However, a large number of SLPP MPs is exerting pressure and requesting him to come to Parliament. SLPP founder Rajapaksa has not yet taken any such decision so far but there is a talk going on within the party that he will come to Parliament.
Q: As reported by the media 113 SLPP MPs have signed a collective letter requesting SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa to enter Parliament. Your comments?
A: Such a proposal has been put forward by the SLPP Parliamentarians stating that it is appropriate if former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa enters Parliament. However, even if he does not enter Parliament, he did a tremendous job as the Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic revival and Poverty Eradication over the past one and a half years to take the Government forward. There is nothing wrong if he comes and does the same job inside the Parliament.
Therefore, the SLPP MPs had requested him to enter Parliament and fulfill the same task. If Rajapaksa is not in Parliament at present, he still plays a significant role to operate the state mechanism.
During the past one and a half years, he has made a big contribution to govern the country. He has played the biggest role behind the screen. Whether he comes to Parliament or not, he plays a significant role in implementing the state mechanism.
Since President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office, SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa was also educated with each and every decision taken by the Government and his views were also obtained to implement Government programs. Therefore, there was no shortcoming on his part. It is entirely up to him to accept a ministerial portfolio
Q: Is there any fertiliser shortage as highlighted by the farmers at their demonstrations?
A: Honestly speaking there is about a five percent fertiliser shortage in the country. However, 95 percent of fertiliser requirements of farmers have already been sorted out. The main reason for the fertiliser shortage is that the amount of land cultivated during this Maha season has been increased compared to the previous Yala season. The rain water and Covid-19 situation have compelled farmers to cultivate more land areas. Therefore, we have a certain amount of fertiliser shortage. This had occasionally happened during the past as well.
However, farmers are not against the use of organic farming. Even a single farmer who protests doesn’t refuse the use of organic fertiliser.
The chemical fertiliser mafia in collaboration with the JVP and some other political parties attempt to turn a five percent fertiliser shortage into a hundred percent shortage, hoping that the organic farming will be successful in the forthcoming season.
At present the companies have hidden their chemical fertiliser stocks. According to statistics, agrochemicals and other pesticides required for the next two years have been imported during this year. However, the chemical fertiliser mafia attempts to create an unnecessary fear and take farmers to the streets.
Their intention is somehow to kill a farmer during a protest. We would like to state with responsibility the farmers who have a five percent of fertiliser shortage will also be given organic fertiliser without any hindrance.
Q: What is the progress of the Government’s program to promote organic fertiliser?
A: It has shown very good results. At present a new economy has been formed based on organic farming. The intention of the President is to distribute billions of rupees earned by four companies on the import of chemical fertiliser among over two million farmers. The President hopes to give Rs.12, 500 to each hectare to produce organic fertilizer. Earlier these billions of rupees were used by four companies. However, the objective of the President is to distribute this money among nearly 2.5 million farmers in the country.
Q: Has the Government commenced its paddy purchasing program for the Maha season?
A: We have commenced the paddy purchasing. A kilogram of paddy is purchased between Rs. 50 to 52. Earlier when a certified price of Rs. 50 to 52 was introduced for a kilogram of paddy, the rice mill owners purchased paddy at higher prices and sold rice at higher prices.
Therefore, we have issued a new Gazette notification stating that if the rice is sold at higher prices, a Rs.100,000 fine will be imposed.
As this fine is imposed, rice mill owners will not be able to purchase paddy at higher prices. This would pave the way to control the rice prices in the market.
Q: Is there any rice shortage in the market as highlighted by the media?
A: There is no such rice shortage in the market. We have sufficient rice stocks of the previous Maha season required for the next two months. In addition, the paddy harvest of the Yala season has also commenced. Nearly 500,000 hectares of paddy has been cultivated in the Yala season. Altogether, we have required rice stocks for the next seven months. I would like to say with responsibility that there is no rice shortage and all these are manipulated by the ‘rice mafia’.
During the Yala and Maha seasons, 500,000 and 800,000 hectares are cultivated. Therefore, 1.3 million hectares are cultivated by farmers per year. There is 4.5 metric tons of paddy production from each hectare of land cultivated.
Our farmers produce 5.4 million metric tons of paddy per year. When this is converted to rice, it is 3.4 million metric tons of rice. Only 200,000 metric tons of rice is consumed by the people per year.
Then there are nearly 900,000 to 1,000,000 metric tons of rice surplus. Then how could there be a rice shortage in the market. This is a mafia created by some traders and there is no rice shortage whatsoever. At present a kilogram of paddy is purchased at Rs.80. This is a heinous crime. Nearly Rs.100 profit is gained from a kilogram of rice. Therefore, we should definitely attack this rice mafia.
Q: Farmers say a total ban on chemical fertiliser and agrochemicals was not acceptable or practical at this juncture. Your comments?
A: As I said earlier, there is a five percent fertiliser shortage. Therefore, the farmers have requested to provide them fertiliser on time. We are ready to provide the required amount of fertiliser to farmers for the forthcoming Maha season. Therefore, this should not be turned into an issue.
Q: Have you decided to introduce a national policy for agriculture?
A: Yes. We have already formulated a National Agricultural Policy. There was no database for the agriculture sector. Therefore, it took nearly a year to create a new database for agriculture. After the database is finalised, the National Agricultural Policy will be launched this year.
Q: The Opposition demands to immediately bring down the recently increased fuel prices. Would you like to comment?
A: Fuel prices have not increased since the day our Government came to power. With the increase of fuel prices in the world market, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had incurred a loss of Rs.4 billion.
Therefore, the Government cannot further bear this loss due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country. That is why the Government had to go for the recent fuel price hike.
Q: The main Opposition SJB alleges that the Government has failed to control the Covid-19 outbreak in the country. Your comments?
A: The Opposition didn’t make any allegation when the first and second waves of Covid-19 was successfully controlled by the Government. The entire world has faced difficulties to control the third wave. The Government would definitely control the third wave as it successfully controlled the first and second waves.
Q: The main Opposition SJB says the Government which has two thirds majority has failed in all sectors during its one and half year’s tenure in office. Your views?
A: If the SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s administration is successful, the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe would have not come back to Parliament. Therefore, Premadasa should first conduct his administration in a successful manner.
Q: How do you view UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s re-entry to Parliament from its National List slot?
A: I see that as an effigy in Parliament. It is shameful for some people who said that Ranil Wickremesinghe made a good speech in Parliament after he took oaths as a MP.
He was the person who was instrumental in the Central Bank bond scam, betrayed the country for LTTE terrorists and sold the country’s state properties. At present, some people have completely forgotten, he was the mastermind behind the Central Bank bond scam. Therefore, it is absurd to talk about Wickremesinghe’s re-entry to Parliament.
Q: Do you think all constituent parties of the Government would extend their support to defeat the SJB sponsored No Confidence Motion against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila in Parliament?
A: Definitely. The Opposition attempts to create a crisis within the Government. Whatever futile attempts are made by the Opposition; we would defeat the NCM by 151 votes in Parliament.
Q: Are there any differences of opinion among the coalition parties of the Government as highlighted by the media?
A: We have to admit the SLPP led alliance consists of so many political parties. Each party may have their own political ideologies. I would like to say this is the true democracy. Finally, what is best for the country would come out.
For example, if various allegations were there on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, we fought and gave what is best for the country. Similarly, we also raised our voice for the East Container Terminal issue and gave the most suitable thing for the country. Therefore, this ongoing dialog among the constituent parties in the Government is good.
If the Opposition sees this as a crisis within the Government, the people will finally get the best result out of it. I am hundred percent sure all coalition parties of the Government would extend their support to defeat the NCM against Minister Gammanpila in Parliament.
Q: Ten parties in the ruling coalition including the SLFP and other minor parties led by Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudeva Nanayakkara have formed what they call “G-10” to add pressure when and where they think necessary on the affairs of the Government. Do you think the internal tensions of the ruling coalition may take a new turn with these developments?
A: Actually, there is no separate group or faction in the Government. The leftist parties meet separately to discuss their issues. During the past too, these leftist parties met at the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s residence. These parties talk about their issues and sort them out following discussions with the President and the Prime Minister. There is nothing wrong with it. The coalition parties should also highlight their issues and there should be a forum to discuss them.
All 151 MPs in the Government are fully with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. If there is an internal dialog on certain decisions taken by the SLPP, that would never become a crisis within the Government.
Q: In a natural disaster, a responsible Opposition irrespective of political differences extends its support to the Government. How do you view the behaviour of the present Opposition?
A: First of all, we have to consider whether there is an Opposition in the country. There is a lack of a vibrant Opposition in the country.
The conduct of the present Opposition Leader and the Opposition has become a joke. How many Opposition Leaders are there in the Opposition side such as Sajith Premadsa, Champika Ranawaka, Mangala Samaraweera and Kumara Welgama. Therefore, there is no Opposition. In a crisis situation like this, the Opposition should stand with the Government. Therefore, a question has arisen among the people whether there is an Opposition in the country.
Q: Allegations are levelled that so far; the Government has failed to bring the masterminds of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks to book. Could you elaborate your views on this?
A: At present nearly 90 percent of those connected to the Easter Sunday attacks have been arrested and they are in remand custody. Still the investigations are going on. Therefore, if somebody says the Government has failed to bring the culprits to book, that is very unfair.