Co-Cabinet Spokesman, Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said that there are certain different ideas among some coalition parties of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led political alliance and that is quite natural. However, there is no split within the Government.
The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that there are about 11 constituent parties in the Government. However, one should not forget the fact that the SLPP alone has 125 seats in Parliament. We have secured two-thirds majority in Parliament with the support of some other political parties and their support is vital throughout the tenure of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The coalition parties have divergent views and opinions in relation to different matters and they have expressed them clearly. We are not against that, and we counter argue such issues and provide solutions to them. Dr. Pathirana said, “However, we must ensure that all of us are a part of one Government and a Cabinet of Ministers so that all stakeholders of the Government should be fully adhered to the code of conduct and protect the Cabinet secrets and restrict their discussions and criticisms to the Government parliamentary group and the Cabinet.”
Excerpts of the interview
Q:The main Opposition, SJB has called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the attack on journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama’s residence in Piliyandala. Would you like to comment?
A: We categorically said that we deny all the allegations levelled by the Opposition. We vehemently condemn this kind of heinous attack on journalists. Whoever did it will bring disrepute to the Government? Even Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has vehemently condemned the attack.
As the Government, we condemn this attack. We are a Government which has established press freedom in the country. The freedom of speech and freedom of press have been well established under the Government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. An impartial investigation will be carried out to bring the culprits of the attack to book.
Q: Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has strongly condemned the recent arrest of the civil activist Shehan Malaka. Your comments?
A: We have a lot of respect for the Archbishop as he maintained an impartial stance on the Easter Sunday attacks at the time. Later on, he made certain statements which were not of quality. It is up to the law enforcement authorities including the Police and the Attorney General’s Department to conduct a full scale and impartial investigation and bring all those suspects before the law.
The Government is fully supportive of all the activities, but the President has said at several times that he himself or the Government will not get involved in any activity pertaining to law enforcement authorities. It is up to the Attorney General and other authorities to ensure to conduct all the inquiries impartially and transparently so that justice would be carried out.
Q: Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has said that a written report on Sri Lanka will be presented to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet at the 49th session of the UNHRC which will begin on February 28. Do you think justice will be done for Sri Lanka at the UNHRC session?
A: We hope so. Certain interested parties, especially some of the extreme elements of the diaspora have created a voice against Sri Lanka. They have done it over a period of time or a few decades. Their activities have culminated in the situation going back to 2009. They try to bring disrepute to the Government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa by bringing false allegations.
We have been addressing these issues over a period of time. Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris will provide whatever necessary documents to the UNHRC sessions. As we all know, the best proof is that Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are living in this country with harmony. Especially in places such as the Capital, Colombo city, nearly 50 percent of the people who live there are Tamils and Muslims. That is the best example. This is a country where all the religions and nationalities are respected and given their due prominence and the freedom to live freely as they wish.
Q: What is the progress of drafting a new Constitution?
A: Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC has taken a special interest in this regard. A committee has been appointed under the chairmanship of Romesh de Silva, PC to draft the new Constitution. They are working on that. The constitutional draft will be presented to the President shortly.
Q:The National Election Commission wants the Government to hold the Local Government Election before the end of 2022, and all secretaries of registered political parties have been summoned before the Election Commission on February 24. Is the Government ready to face any election at this juncture?
A: We are always ready to face elections. During the past two years, the main concern of the whole country and the world was to address the pandemic scenario. We have been able to control the Covid-19 pandemic. Even now, there is the spread of the Omicron virus. That is why the people have to be careful about the situation. We don’t want to conduct anything that will escalate the spread of the disease. On the other hand, we don’t want to keep on postponing elections.
The former Yahapalana Government kept on holding the Provincial Council elections. We have not been able to hold PC elections as the Constitution has to be amended for it. However, we don’t want to postpone the Local Government elections. We are trying to conduct the election as early as possible. Anyway, the term of the Local Government institutions would end in March, 2023. Before that we try to hold the election and elect fresh Local Government bodies.
Q:How do you view the demands by the TNA to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), adding that the contents of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Amendment Bill and the PTA are identical?
A: We have brought down certain regulations in favour of all communities in this country. That is one measure to show the world that we don’t want to adhere to strict rules and regulations when it comes to such measures. On the other hand, we must ensure that we are a country which suffered from the ruthless terrorism more than three decades.
We must ensure that there are enough and strong preventive and security measures and other concerns to ensure that such activities would not take place in the country on a futuristic basis. There are certain extremist elements. That is why we can’t completely abolish the PTA. However, it is much in favour of the harmony of the people in the country.
Q:The main Opposition, SJB, has said that they will take legal action against the Government’s decision to impose a surcharge tax on the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees Trust Fund (ETF). Your views?
A: That is fully cleared by the Finance Minister, adding that there will not have surcharge on the EPF and ETF. When the Bill is presented to Parliament, we will move amendments at the Committee Stage level to ensure that this surcharge is removed. This came into effect during the previous Government. In 2016, the then Finance Minister had introduced this Bill which led to this scenario. We are going to rectify whatever the wrong things that have been done by the previous regime. It is clear that there will be no surcharge on the EPF and ETF.
Q:You have said that the prestigious international travel advisory blog, the “Culture Trip” has branded Sri Lanka as a safe destination for tourists. Could you explain?
A: It is very promising. This is all because of the effective vaccination program which was spearheaded by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. We have provided two vaccines to all deserving age groups and even a third booster dose at a time when most countries dream of having even the first vaccine. Most African countries have not given even the first jab for the prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sri Lankan people are lucky. It is visible that the country is gradually returning to normalcy. Therefore, international travel advisories have considered Sri Lanka as a safe destination. We are recording a gradual increase of tourist arrivals to the country. On Tuesday (15), we received about 4,500 tourists.
With that, the country’s economy will come back to normalcy. We will generate more income from the tourism sector in time to come.
Q:Certain sections of the media attempt to portray a split within the SLPP. Even Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has made an appeal to the media not to portray different views by different politicians of the SLPP led coalition as a split within it. Would you like to elaborate your views?
A: There is no split within the SLPP. There are certain different ideas among some coalition parties of the Alliance. That is quite natural. There are about 11 constituent parties in the Government. Our Government looks like a rainbow coalition. We are a coalition Government. One should not forget the fact that the SLPP alone has 125 seats in Parliament. We have secured a two-thirds majority in Parliament with the support of some other political parties. Their support is vital throughout the tenure of the President.
However, they have different views and opinions in relation to different matters. They have expressed them clearly. We have no opposition for it. We counter argue such issues and provide solutions to them. On the other hand, we must ensure that all of us are a part of one Government and a Cabinet of Ministers.
We adher to a certain code of conduct. I hope and pray all the stakeholders of the Government will be fully adhered to the code of conduct and protect the Cabinet secrets and restrict their discussions and criticisms to the Government parliamentary group and the Cabinet without going out and saying to the public before vital issues are discussed in the Government.
Q: Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has said that foreign exchange crisis is short-lived and the Government will minimise its impact on the public. You have also said that the Government hopes to manage the forex crisis in the next six months. Would you like to comment?
A: We are getting assistance from other countries and international agencies. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have also pledged their support to us. India and China have come forward to sort out foreign currency issues. They are supporting us to purchase essential goods, fuel and drugs. Despite claims by the Opposition, our foreign reserves have been strengthened last month.
They said that the Government is going to collapse but nothing of such happened. The smooth sailing has started again, but we are not fully comfortable as yet. Our imports are being reduced and exports developed. We hope that our difficulties will be sorted out within the next six months.
Q:Serious concern has been raised that consumers don’t receive any relief despite tax concessions by the Government for some essential food items. Your comments?
A: This is a world crisis. Once production levels have gone down world over, supply chains are broken down and there is a Dollar crisis, obviously prices go up. That is the food inflation. That is why we have taken remedial measures to improve the production of agriculturally and otherwise.
If income levels don’t go up and there is no significant increase in the production level and there is a shortage of supply. Obviously, there will be a price hike. That is quite a normal economic scenario. That is why we want to ensure that we increase the country’s food production with the assistance of different levels. On livelihood wise, we have provided assistance to many people through the Budget.
This year alone, we have allocated Rs. 85 billion for livelihood development. That is a sizable contribution. We hope the production levels will go up again and the people will find some remedial measures within themselves. Instead of blaming the Government for high vegetable and chilli prices, the people can start vegetable and other cultivations for themselves.
The Government provides agricultural materials including plants and seeds. What else the Government can do. The Government is doing its utmost to ensure that the people will have a decent life.
Q: Has a final decision been taken by the Government to go for an IMF bailout?
A: No decision has been taken as yet. We are keen on talking to them. We look at these options as well because that is nothing new.
In 2009, our Government got the highest amount of assistance from the IMF. However, we want to look into what sort of condition they put forward for the country and its people.
If their conditions and corrective measures are good for the country, we will go with them. Otherwise we wouldn’t do that.