Former State Minister of Development Banking and Loan Schemes Shehan Semasinghe said at present, the Opposition even in the midst of a national crisis, is capitalising on the opportunity for their narrow political gains by vociferously demanding the reconvening of the dissolved Parliament. The Opposition is afraid to go for an election as they have been categorically rejected by the people.
In an interview with the Sunday Observer, the former State Minister said the decision taken by the SJB, UNP and the JVP to boycott the ex-MPs’ meeting convened by the Prime Minister, is clear testimony that they too have realised that the Government has taken the correct steps to overcome the coronavirus pandemic in the country. If the SJB, UNP and the JVP attended the meeting, the true situation would have been revealed and that is why they boycotted the meeting.
According to Semasinghe, it is obvious that the Opposition’s requests to reconvene Parliament is to sabotage the anti-coronavirus campaign and bring the Government into disrepute. Those who are demanding to reconvene the Parliament were given four and a half years to govern the country. We couldn’t see even a single issue being sorted out by them during their tenure in office. When prior information had been given on the possible terror attacks on Easter Sunday, the Yahapalana Government could not even avert those deadly attacks and ensure the security of the people.
Q: How do you look at the decision taken by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), UNP and the JVP to boycott the ex-MPs’ meeting convened by the Prime Minister on May 4?
A: Basically, they too have admitted that the Government has taken the correct steps to overcome the coronavirus pandemic. If they are genuinely concerned they should have come there and raised those questions in front of the Prime Minister. The Government officials were also there and there was no political involvement. The Prime Minister invited all 225 members of the former Parliament to discuss the prevailing situation in the country. Therefore, they should have come and voiced their allegations if any or given their suggestions to sort out the issue.
Q: The Opposition alleges that the Government attempts to hide the true information on the Covid-19 pandemic. Don’t you think, they should have attended the ex-MPs meeting and raised all those issues without making such baseless allegations?
A: Actually, all the allegations they make are baseless. It is clear that the entire process to combat the corona outbreak is not completely handled by the President’s office and the Prime Minister’s office. Different ministries have been given different tasks to tackle this issue. Therefore, one can’t hide information in today’s world as technology is so advanced and everybody is getting information on what is happening with regard to the coronavirus pandemic.
They are all baseless allegations made by the Opposition to mislead the public. What they should have done was attend that meeting. It was a very transparent meeting and there were some important presentations made which indicated how many patients are there and what steps are taken by the Government to contain the Covid-19 outbreak. Therefore, the SJB, UNP and JVP should have attended that meeting and got clarifications. They themselves know that they are making baseless allegations. If they had attended the meeting, the truth would have been revealed. That is why they boycotted the meeting.
Q: Even Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that the Opposition is politicking in the midst of the coronavirus. What are your comments on this?
A: It is very obvious. At present, the Government or SLPP candidates are not doing politics in their respective electorates but you can see that the UNP, SJB and JVP are politicising all matters. Thus, it is a matter for them to consider as they have been rejected by the general public not once but thrice. On the other hand, they have to go for the election. They are scared to face the election as they have been rejected by the masses in Sri Lanka.
Q: The SJB, UNP and JVP vociferously demand that the dissolved Parliament be reconvened and assert that after April 30, the President has no legal right to allocate funds for the maintenance of Government services without the approval of the old Parliament. Is there any validity in this argument?
A: It shows that they are incapable of ruling the country and their ignorance on the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The Constitution under section 150 (3) clearly gives the provision where the President can use the Consolidated Fund for the maintenance of Government services. I think they are either ignorant of or unaware about the Constitution.
The President has clearly stated that he has no intention of getting any further Acts or resolutions to be passed in Parliament with regard to controlling the corona outbreak. We have all the legal provisions which are required to address the situation so that the President has no intention to reconvene the old Parliament. It is clear the Opposition’s request to reconvene Parliament is to sabotage the anti-coronavirus campaign and bring disrepute to the Government. Those who are demanding to reconvene the Parliament were given four and a half years to govern the country. Did we see even a single issue sorted out by them during their tenure in office? When prior information had been given on the possible terror attacks on Easter Sunday, the Yahapalana Government could not even avert those deadly attacks and ensure the security of the people. Obviously they want to reconvene the Parliament to get protected by parliamentary privileges.
The investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks are being carried forward and more information is being revealed. We have also submitted 14 complaints to the Bribery Commission and the CID regarding the bribery and corruption cases which took place during the tenure of the former Government. I think those inquiries are also being carried forward. Therefore, they want to take cover under the pretext of the privileges of the Members of Parliament.
Q: The Opposition alleges that the President is not reconvening the Parliament with the ulterior motive of misusing the funds coming from abroad for the anti-coronavirus campaign. Would you like to comment on this?
A: There are several pledges which have been made. In order to make those pledges a reality, it will take another couple of months. The Government, the Treasury and the Central Bank have to fulfill certain requirements. Therefore, whatever funding has been received, anybody can obtain information freely about it. If we want to hide what we are doing, the President and the Prime Minister would have not summoned several meetings with the Opposition.
There were two rounds of talks between the President and the UNP and the SJB. In addition, the Prime Minister also convened meetings with all parties several times. However, none of those concerns were raised at those meetings. They are raising these concerns only in front of the media but unfortunately, media personnel can only convey those messages.
Q: The PAFFREL organisation has said that if the election cannot be held on June 20 due to the prevailing situation, the Election Commission has the power to fix another date after 14 days. Could you please explain?
A: Dates have already been fixed for the election. The President in his first proclamation on March 2 has fulfilled the requirement. He has dissolved Parliament and given dates for the nominations, and the election as well as to convene the new Parliament. Thereafter, the dates were postponed by the Election Commission due to the prevailing situation in the country. Now, it is in the hands of the Election Commission to ensure that democracy will be ensured by having the election.
Q: The ninth corona death was reported on Tuesday (May 5) and the total number of corona affected cases is increasing daily. In this backdrop, is there the necessary environment conducive to conduct elections on June 20?
A: That has to be decided by the Election Commission. The health authorities and tri-forces are doing a tremendous job with regard to controlling the coronavirus pandemic. The Government under the leadership of the President is taking every possible measure to turn the situation in the country to normalcy. Thus, whatever the decision taken by the Government will be based on the instructions given by the health sector. If the country can be opened on May 11, step by step, I don’t know why the Election Commission can’t look at it positively. Someday, the election will have to be held.
The Government is of the view that democracy should be safeguarded but we are not in a hurry to hold the election either. We will not interfere with the independence of the Election Commission like the former Government did. They postponed the Local Government elections by two and a half years. The Provincial Council elections have also not been held and it has lapsed over the past 36 months. They even tried to postpone the Presidential Election but fortunately it was in the hands of the Election Commission.
Q: The Election Commission Chairman has sought legal advice from the Attorney General as to whether any legal issues arise due to the acceptance of nomination papers on March 17, 18 and 19 as March 16, 17, 18and 19 had been declared as special public holidays by two Gazette notifications. Could you explain?
A: The Attorney General has given clear instructions in this regard. According to the Election Act, it is very clear that there was no violation of the election law and that the nominations can be accepted. Going beyond that, the Attorney General has also given a clear answer. Therefore, what is the other issue that they want to further highlight?
Q: In the backdrop of several highly developed countries struggling to control the deadly Covid-19, WHO Director General Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has praised the efforts undertaken by the President in combating the Covid-19. What is your view regarding this?
A: Compared to other developed nations, the Sri Lankan Government has been able to successfully control the coronavirus pandemic. The concern of the WHO is very important to a country like ours. This is purely because of the political leadership given to overcome the situation.
Q: The Director General Health Services, Dr.Anil Jasinghe has informed the Education Ministry that the environment is not suitable to reopen schools on May 11. Even Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has said that the recommendations of the health authorities and the Presidential Task Force will be sought regarding this matter. Could you elaborate on this?
A: Obviously, whatever decision taken by the Government will be based entirely on the instructions given by the health sector.
Q: Do you think there was any deliberate attempt by the Yahapalana Government to sweep the then investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks under the carpet?
A: Even a small child knows that. It is not only the Easter Sunday attacks, the former Government attempted to cover up all the fraud and corruption they committed including the Central Bank bond scam.
Q: As reported by the media, the Government’s revenue has reduced by nearly Rs.120 billion due to the Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Customs, the Exercise Department, the Department of Motor Traffic and the Department of Immigration and Emigration not functioning properly. Will this have any adverse effect on the economy?
A: It is not only the Sri Lankan economy; the entire global economy will be adversely affected due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, we are very confident that we would be able to overcome this situation and bring the country back to normalcy soon.