'Mangala, Sripathi, JVP and UPFA'
Eye to eye
with
Prasad Gunewardene |
Profile
Name - Pallewatte Gamaralalage Maithripala Yapa
Sirisena
Name in politics - Maithripala Sirisena
School - Royal College, Polonnaruwa
Professional Status - Graduate in Agriculture and Political Science
Political party rank - General Secretary SLFP
Portfolios held - Deputy Minister of Irrigation (1994), Cabinet Minister
of Mahaweli Development (1997) and Minister of Mahaweli, River Basin
Development & Rajarata Development (2004)
Current portfolio - Minister of Agriculture
Development & Agrarian Services
This political figure is a son of a war veteran during the Second
World War. Albert Sirisena was a brave soldier who was commended by the
Father of the Nation, D. S. Senanayake, first Prime Minister of Sri
Lanka. DS rewarded Albert Sirisena for his bravery with five acres of
paddy land in Polonnaruwa close to the Parakrama Samudraya. In no time
the masses in Polonnaruwa recognised and respected the services of
Sirisena to make him their "Village Headman" from 1952-64.
His wife was a Teacher by profession who followed the path of the
late Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike. The man we talk with today is
none other than the vibrant General Secretary of the SLFP, Maithripala
Sirisena, a loyal SLFPer.
Educated at Royal College, Polonnaruwa, Maithripala first tread on
the path of communism at the tender age of fifteen. He joined the SLFP
Youth League in Polonnaruwa in 1967. He climbed the ladder in politics
in a gradual manner.
From his village, he stepped into the all island level of politics in
the SLFP. In 1981, Maithripala entered the SLFP politburo. In this
process he became a successful politician when he entered Parliament
1989 from the Polonnaruwa District.
From that point, Maithripala has won all elections in a row to
represent his people uninterrupted for 18 long years. It was not a path
of roses for this youthful looking man who turned 56 on September 3. He
has seen the four walls of the Prisons during this thorny political
journey.
Hard work, dedication and commitment gave him strength and courage in
his journey in politics to serve the people. He is a man who calls a
spade a spade. Out spoken and fiery at times, Maithripala Sirisena is a
loyal man to any leader in his party.
He is prepared to accept any challenge and does not fear to throw his
weight if the situation called for it. He is a man who is forthright and
does not fear to speak the truth. This is how he responded when
questions were put to him:
Q: You have seen the SLFP under two regimes. One under the
Bandaranaikes' and now under Rajapaksa's. How do you view these two
administrations?
A: Analysing the Bandaranaikes', the beginning was 1956 and 1960 saw
a turn when Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike was at the helm. Both these
regimes formulated policies to meet challenges and needs of the
international political arena which prevailed at that time. It was Mr.
Bandaranaike who started diplomatic relations with communist countries
in the world.
The policies of the 1970-77 government which had many socialist
features made some foreign countries assume that Sri Lanka was a
communist country. These two regimes culturally revolutionised the
country with policies that benefited the masses.
These progressive measures from a small country like ours did not
meet the aspirations of capitalist countries at that time. Even the Non
Aligned Movement was born as a measure to meet the pressure that mounted
from capitalist countries against people oriented policies adopted by
nations like ours.
It was an era where small nations were sandwiched between the two
super powers at that time, the USA and the Soviet Union. The
Bandaranaike regimes acted in favour of the Soviet Union policies which
were socialist in nature. The 1956 and 1970 governments too were formed
with parties which had communist policies.
However, the 1994 administration of President Chandrika Kumaratunga
was different. We then had to embark on a different path. That was
because we had to face up to international tidal waves both economic,
social and cultural needs if we were to tread on a path to development.
If we were economically stable we would have been able to withstand
outside pressure. We are now in an era where we cannot afford to annoy
our neighbours. By 1994 the international political scene drastically
changed. From globalisation to the UN we see a one sided political trend
in the international scene. Therefore, the Kumaratunga regime was quite
different to that of her father and mother.
The present regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his leadership,
despite arguments for and against, is an era of a serious cultural
revolution.
The President is subjected to political pressure, political
conspiracies as well as international pressure. The President is a man
who wears the national costume, who treads on paddy fields and has not
gone for education abroad. Therefore, he is a national figure in today's
politics.
I view the journey of President Rajapaksa as a continuation of the
1956 SWRD policy that was followed up in 1970 by Ms. Bandaranaike and
stalled in 1977 with the change of government at that time.
It is also the second stage of the Bandaranaike policies as this is
the first time that power shifted from the Bandaranaikes' to outsiders
like Rajapaksas'. Hence, the Rajapaksa policies are meant for the people
and by the people.
Q: As the General Secretary of the SLFP, how confident are you that
the party could win a future election as a single political party?
A - There is no impossibility of the SLFP winning an election as a
single party. The need is the commitment, strategy and plan towards
achieving such a victory. Today the UNP cannot win and come to power as
a single political party.
Some may argue that the UNP has come to power as a single party in
the past but, not the SLFP. In the 1960 July election, the SLFP came to
power as a single party though there were some agreements. For example,
see the last Presidential elections.
Some minority parties which claimed they are the people who decide on
the king withdrew support to Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President won
without their support. Take the 1965 UNP government. That government of
Dudley Senanayake was known as the 'Hath Havula' (marrying seven
together).
Therefore, the UNP has not won as a single party all the time. In
1970, though the SLFP contested with coalition parties it won 90 seats
under the first past the post system.
Q: May I interject for a moment to ask you what obstructs you to win
as a single party in the future, when the SLFP had earlier won 90 seats
as a single party at the 1970 general election?
A: Yes... the factor that stands in our way is the present
constitution. It is a constitution that destroys the nation. This nation
can never prosper till this constitution remains in force. That is my
personal feeling as a politician. This constitution needs to be changed
to develop this country, be it we, or any other party that may come to
power in the future. This constitution has messed up the strength in
Parliament.
The number of votes that are cast into the ballot box is not
represented in Parliament. The executive presidency at times hangs in
the balance if the minority parties do not support either candidate. All
these dangers have erupted due to this constitution. But, the SLFP is
quite confident of its future endeavours.
Q: Did the exit of Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi
weaken the strength of the SLFP? How do you view that situation as party
General Secretary?
A: At the time the SLFP was formed there were three Co-Secretaries
namely, Aluvihare, Bud-udin Mahmud and Thangarajah from the three
communities with Mr. Bandaranaike as party president.
Of these three, Aluvihare joined the UNP. In 1959, after the
assassination of SWRD until Mrs. Bandaranaike took control, CP De Silva
was the acting president of the SLFP.
After a few years he too joined the UNP. SKK Sooriyaarachchi who was
the general secretary from 1970-77 also crossed over to the UNP. S.B.
Dissanayake who was my predecessor after joining the UNP even went to
jail.
The treasured son of the Bandaranaike family, Anura also joined the
UNP at one time. Maithripala Senanayake who was acting Prime Minister,
on 21 occasions went on the UNP platform with JR Jayewardene. Like
Maithripala and others, people like Kalugalle went to the UNP. But, the
stronger political party in the country today is the SLFP.
Therefore, the exit of Mangala and Sripathi is only a big issue to
the free media which blows the trumpet for them to show it is a big loss
for the SLFP. All must remember that they look strong only till they
remain in the party. When they leave the party they become dud coins in
no time. The party history has proved it beyond doubt. If I leave the
party today, same fate will befall me in no time.
Q: Now let us move to another interesting topic of the day because
you are the best person to seek answers to questions of that nature. I
have observed you as a person who speaks straight without fear or favour. Can you win an election without the support of the JVP? Is the
SLFP afraid of the threats and intimidation of the JVP?
A: (The minister enjoys a hearty laugh) We are a party that has a
proud history and we have, and will never go on the defensive in the
face of any threat or intimidation from the JVP. SWRD was shot dead;
Mrs. B's civic rights were taken away.
Did we retreat? No. In 1971 the JVP attacked our government. We did
not fear them. In 1999, the LTTE attacked President Kumaratunga and
disabled her in one eye. Still we didn't fear. Our party supporters at
village level have never feared anybody.
Hundreds of our supporters have sacrificed their lives for the party.
We are a party where our leaders and supporters have braved all odds.
Our intention is to build friendship with other parties. We do not
believe in collision course with other national parties. The President
is keen to accommodate any party into the fold to build the nation.
Today there are 42 members who contested under the UNP at the last
general election holding hands with President Rajapaksa. I don't agree
to a position that the SLFP cannot win elections without the support of
the JVP.
The SLFP organising system and capacity is quite different to that of
the JVP. The SLFP is a centre for economic, social and cultural needs of
a country and not a party based on doctrines.
We are different from other leftist political parties. Take the
UNP... it is not a party that needs to be reorganised. The current
setback in the UNP is due to the misfortune of its present day leaders.
The UNP is a capitalist party which undermines the needs of the
downtrodden.
Q: Mr. Minister, this question seeks to clarify a certain issue with
regard to a fundamental right of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance
(UPFA) government.
Do you accept that Members of Parliament under the symbol of the
'betel leaf' are bound by the constitution that governs the UPFA? Do you
also accept the fact that under such statute, be it the JVP or any other
constituent party, if they withdraw support they do violate discipline
as MPs of the UPFA? Furthermore, will you endorse the fact that in such
instances the General Secretary is empowered to remove such MPs and
recommend the entry of the next in the list as all parliamentary seats
today in the government belong to the UPFA, irrespective of the
individual identity of the respective political party?
A: Very clearly the General Secretary of the UPFA enjoys that right
and privilege. To be emphatic on that issue may I tell you that when the
JVP wants to take disciplinary action against their members who
represent the Provincial Councils elected under the UPFA banner, they
still communicate with the UPFA General Secretary, Susil Premjayanth.
It is only then, necessary action is taken. Though we enjoy such
powers, we do not abuse or misuse them. Despite enjoying that power and
privilege, we have not used it on the JVP. We practise gentleman
politics and view the JVP as a friendly force and not as an enemy.
We may have differences of opinion. We do not view the JVP in the
perspective we see the UNP. Premjayanth as UPFA General Secretary enjoys
the rights to take disciplinary action against any UPFA MP. But, when we
receive complaints against any JVP member under the UPFA, be it at grass
roots level, we refer it to the JVP General Secretary for necessary
recommendations.
That is why I said that the SLFP is a gentleman's party. It never
abuses or misuses power that it enjoys by statute.
Q: Sorry, let me interrupt you... Mr. Minister my argument and my
position is not that what you try to prove, running round the bush. I
reiterate that the UPFA General Secretary has direct powers to try any
member of the UPFA who violates discipline of the Alliance irrespective
of the constituent party such a member represents......
A: Yes... the constitution of the UPFA (SLFP-JVP) states that the
UPFA General Secretary should act on the recommendations of the JVP
General Secretary with regard to any form of violation of the provisions
of the agreement by JVP members. Today, the alliance is constitutionally
not in force.
Q: I am not talking of an agreement between the two parties in the
Alliance. The point I am trying to place before you is that the UPFA
General Secretary enjoys the right and privilege to remove any UPFA MP
who violates the UPFA statute, then inform the Secretary General of
Parliament that, he had upon taking such action, recommend the next name
or names in the UPFA list to fill such a vacancy. Could you respond to
this position?
A: Yes... ....he has the power. But, he has so far not exercised such
powers. |