Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Bandula Gunawardana, said conducting the election is not a responsibility of the politicians and that it is a task to be fulfilled by the Election Commission. Therefore, the Election Commission after extensive discussion with all stakeholders has fixed the date for the election. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that the former Yahapalana Government indefinitely postponed the Pradeshiya Sabhaand Provincial Council elections by arbitrarily abusing power. Actually, their practice was to act against democracy. The Government is ready to face the election at any time as decided by the Election Commission. The people have already rallied round to ensure a landslide victory for the Government at the upcoming General Election.
Minister Gunawardana said, that today the people are far ahead of the politicians. They have realised that the present challenge faced by the country and the majority of them are well aware that it is only President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s National Policy Framework,‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ which has the necessary potential to rebuild the country. Therefore, whether election rallies are held or not, the people in those respective districts have already decided on the candidates they should vote for at the forthcoming election. I don’t think we should conduct election rallies or other campaigns to get the people’s votes.
Q: Do you think the situation regarding the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country will improve by June 20 when the election is going to be held?
A: These days, I am really concerned as to how the country could be rescued from the threat of the coronavirus. I think that conducting the election is not a responsibility of the politicians and that it is a task to be fulfilled by the Election Commission. The Election Commission has the full power to decide on the election. Therefore, the Election Commission after extensive discussion with all stakeholders has fixed the date for the election. As reported by the media, the Election Commission had discussed the matter with all relevant sectors such as the health authorities, security forces, Postal Department and the Government Press. The former Yahapalana Government indefinitely postponed the Pradeshiya Sabha and Provincial Council elections by arbitrarily abusing power. Their practice was to act against democracy. The incumbent Government is ready to face any election to be held legally in accordance with the Constitution. In South Korea, three people died of the coronavirus on the day they held their election. In 1989, when there was no opportunity to conduct any election rally due to the terror unleashed by the JVP and the then Government in power, Presidential and General Elections were held in the country. The JVP threatened that the first three people who go to the polling station will be killed. Even amidst that terror, the people went to the polling stations to cast their votes. Therefore, we have such past experiences in our political history.
Q: If the election has to be postponed again, won’t that lead to a constitutional crisis as highlighted by the Opposition?
A: Actually, this ‘constitutional crisis’ is not an issue created by the Opposition. This is an opinion created by the pro-LTTE diaspora to destabilise the country. The pro-LTTE diaspora tried their best to prevent Gotabaya Rajapaksa being elected as President and they were of the view that he would never come to power. At present, former TNA MP Sumanthiran raises the voice on behalf of the pro-LTTE diaspora.
Q: Former TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has said that the new election date of June 20, being three months after the Parliament was dissolved on March 2, 2020 renders the presidential proclamation dissolving Parliament invalid. He has told the media that the constitutionally mandated deadline expires on June 2, 2020. Could you explain?
A: There should be a Parliament to reconvene. After the Parliament is dissolved there is no legal provision for the President to reconvene it except to declare a state of emergency. The Yahapalana Government during their tenure in office could not ensure the safety of the lives and properties of the people which are basic fundamental requirements to be fulfilled by a Government. One year ago, when all the information had been given by the intelligence sources on the possible multiple attacks on Easter Sunday with the exact time, date and the locations too, that Parliament could not ensure the National Security of the country. Then, what is the purpose of reconvening that old Parliament? President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fully safeguarded the country’s Constitution. He has not taken a single decision which is detrimental to the Constitution. Therefore, this is not a valid argument put forward by Sumanthiran and the Opposition.
Q: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his recent interview with his Advisor,Lalith Weeratunga said, that he has no intention whatsoever to reconvene the Parliament and there is no legal provision for that. Can you comment on this?
A: Sumanthiran, the pro-LTTE diaspora or the judiciary cannot force the President to reconvene Parliament. It can only be done with the sole consent of the President. According to the Constitution, the President can reconvene the Parliament only to pass a resolution to declare a state of emergency. The President would never act against the Constitution. Actually, we would like to form a stable government rather than forming a caretaker government. There is no issue for us in forming it early or even late. The Government is ready to face the election at any time as decided by the Election Commission. We would definitely achieve a resounding victory. The people have already rallied round to ensure a landslide victory for the Government at the upcoming General Election.
Q: Can we learn any lessons from South Korea which recently held an election?
A: At present, we have been able to maintain a very good healthcare service to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the country compared with other countries. Therefore, the Opposition is jealous and they cannot tolerate it. If the former Parliament was there, most of the officials of the intelligence services and tri-forces would have been in jail today. At present, all these war heroes are engaged in the battle to rescue the people from the coronavirus threat including the North and East provinces. When over 2,000 deaths are reported within a single day in some developed countries, only seven deaths have been reported so far in our country due to the coronavirus. During the tenure of the former Government, the number of people who died of dengue was higher than this. Then, they would have not held elections those days.
Q: As it may not be possible to hold rallies and gatherings, what are the alternatives for campaigning?
A: Today, the people are far ahead of the politicians. They have realised that the present challenge faced by the country and the majority of them are well aware that it is only President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s National Policy Framework, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ which has the necessary potential to rebuild the country. Therefore, whether election rallies are held or not, the people in those respective districts have already decided on the candidates they should votefor at the forthcoming election. I don’t think we should conduct election rallies or other campaigns to get people’s votes.
Q: There are allegations that the Government is lifting the curfew despite the dangers in view of the election. What is your view?
A: Earlier, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader, Sajith Premadasa, said that the Government under the pretext of the coronavirus pandemic should not attempt to postpone the elections. When the Government set up quarantine centres and attempted to send those who return to Sri Lanka from Italy for quarantine, it was Sajith Premadasa and the SJB front liners who made a big hue and cry at the airport by demanding not to send rata viruvoto quarantine centres. Sajith Premadasa even recommended some drugs for corona patients by sending a seriously inaccurate message to our society. This clearly indicates irresponsible conduct on the part of the present Opposition.
Q: Are you satisfied with what the Government has done to contain the coronavirus and also ensure services for the people. Are there any shortcomings?
A: We are far ahead in providing relief to the people compared with all the other coronavirus affected countries. Our economy has faced severe setbacks during the past five years, but any other country which is facing the threat of coronavirus has not given the amount of subsidies provided to the people by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Government.
Q: What is the Government’s plan to boost the economy post COVID-19?
A: We have to place more confidence in the country’s resources and the people by rebuilding a national economy rapidly. That is the only solution to this issue.
Q: Will the depreciation of the rupee against the US Dollar have any adverse impact on our economy?
A: At present the currencies of all the countries have been depreciated due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Government and the Central Bank have adopted various strategies to reduce the amount of money going out of the country and increase the amount of money flowing into the country. Therefore, the Government has been able to bring down the price of the US Dollar which went up to Rs.203 to Rs.193.
Q: The Ceylon Teachers’ Association has said that there is no environment conducive to reopen the schools on May 11. Would you like to elaborate on this?
A: Earlier, the Teachers’ Association opposed the closing down of the schools. The Education Minister would take the most appropriate decision, at the right time, after consultation with the academics and experts in the education field. If there is no suitable environment to reopen the schools, the Education Minister will postpone the decision already taken.
Q: One year has lapsed after the Easter Sunday attacks which took place on April 21 last year. The President has appointed a special Presidential Commission to investigate this incident. Do you think the Government would be able to bring all those responsible for these brutal terrorist attacks to book?
A: Even Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said that notwithstanding whatever pressure is exerted not to stop the ongoing investigations. The former Government politically influenced the investigations. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith in his Easter Sunday message said that pressure is exerted on the ongoing investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks internationally and also by some local politicians. Cardinal Ranjith requested the Government not to succumb to those pressures and continue the investigations to bring the culprits to book. This what the Government is doing right now. Some of those who put forward various legal arguments to postpone the election also attempt to prevent bringing those who are responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks to book.