‘President saved the country from jaws of terrorism’

Maheepala Herath on issues pertaining to Sabaragamuwa:

Pathmasekara NISSANKA

The following is a discussion with the former Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and the Chief Ministerial candidate of UPFA, Maheepala Herath on the dissolution of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, the challenges faced by the government at an unexpected crucial time in an election, the present interim provincial council and the service rendered to masses of Sabaragamuwa province through the provincial council. Interviewed by our Rambukkana Group Correspondent.

Question: You decided to dissolve the provincial council one and half years before its completion. Was this done due to the insistence of the Central Government to ascertain the strength of the Government?

Answer: With the completion of the provincial council election of the Eastern province recently where there was a war situation for about 23 years prior to liberating the area, a new opinion on the manner in which the President looks at the provincial councils, that people have realised it is President Mahinda Rajapaksa who helped save this country from the jaws of terrorism.

The prevailing situation would end bringing harmony among all communities by defeating terrorism and make this country a prosperous one. People would be able to live without fear and bring about economic prosperity as well. This has been proven at the recently concluded Eastern Provincial Council election.

Dissolution of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council was not aimed to ascertain the strength of the Government. The main reason was that JVP initially joined hands with the People’s Alliance and helped form the people’s government.

In Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council also JVP was with the People’s Alliance initially to help resolve the problems of the common people honouring the mandate given by the people at the last election.

Unfortunately the JVP later sighted differences and disagreements on financial, political and general issues and objected to many decisions taken by the UPFA administration in the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council.

The JVP violated the agreement it signed with the UPFA and acted in an irresponsible manner when decisions turned for the benefit of the people. The JVP who came to the provincial council to serve the people through a people’s clear mandate has no moral right to object to the decisions taken for betterment of people.

This caused administrative difficulties in the provincial council and eventually led to take the inevitable decision of the dissolution of the provincial council.

Q: If the JVP could create problems in the administration in the council, will it be a challenging force at the election?

A: I do not agree with that. Today the JVP is faced with serious trouble from top to bottom. First, just see what has happened to their conferences, their leaders. Parliament member Wimal Weerawansa’s group is a separate political party.

A large number of JVP supporters have broken away from JVP and have rallied around with the new party under the leadership of Wimal Weerawansa. Wimal Weerawansa was not left alone when he decided to leave the JVP.

In fact JVP gave a tremendous effort to form the present government. We do not deny that. But today it has lost the confidence of the people and many supporters of the JVP are joining hands with the UPFA in thousands.

Today the UNP is falling apart as never before. Similarly, the JVP has lost faith of the people and now politically emaciated. However, I would like to say that we are not going to shatter the hopes of the supporters who lost confidence with those two parties.

How can the JVP be a challenging force to the government at the election? It does not have the strength of even a mild cold breeze.

The JVP has to come to power to be a challenging force which will not happen. I think this time around JVP would not be even in a position to secure the number of seats they had in the dissolved provincial council.

Q: There was a huge struggle within the UNP to name its chief ministerial candidate for Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council. The UNP tried to agitate people in the wake of current economic and social hardships faced by the common people. Whoever the chief ministerial candidate is the UNP is a threat to the government and the elections?

A: It is customary for any political party in the opposition to say that they are the ones who know the difficulties of the people and hold rallies on the streets. This is the normal culture. But what is UNP doing today instead? Braking pots and pans, trips on bullock carts.

Recently they tried to block the roads making traffic jams against the oil price hike. It is not possible to win the hearts of the people by doing this kind of senseless activities. Today the people of this country are intelligent. No one can give false promises which can never be fulfilled and fool the people to get the vote.

The JVP has faced with the same fate the UNP is undergoing. People have lost confidence totally with both these parties. The peoples vote is the base for existence of any political party.

It is true that people are faced with economic and social problems at this moment. We are aware of it. At the same time people also have realised that even in the midst of a war the Government has embarked on many major development projects with long-term vision.

The social problems faced by the people are not specific to this country alone. In my view time management is a useful tool for any person. One should understand what is necessary and what is not necessary at this time. If this rule is followed many issues can be solved by people themselves. And the other thing I do not look at the people by a political angle.

As people are aware of this they are with me. In some of the JVP and UNP election offices of the candidates only the family members and the candidates are remaining. All the others have left them.

In my case, I am not so. From the day the provincial council was dissolved people have gathered around me in thousands. People seek solutions for their sensitive issues. Once a person gets selected to the provincial council he or she cannot keep silent on such issues of people.

The decision taken by the JHU not to contest at this election is their own decision. But, as a political party acting in a responsible manner the JHU is giving a major support to the present Government and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q: Are you satisfied with what you have done when you were serving as the Chief minister of Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council?

A: Certainly. I was really satisfied during the period I served as the Minister of education in addition to chief minister post. Several other ministerial posts had been assigned to me. As the education minister I analysed the root cause of the problems and shortcomings in the education sector.

I made special attention to the question of shortage of teachers. The offices had informed me that there were about 750 vacancies for teachers.

However, my study revealed that when monitored at the zonal and divisional level, there were indeed as high as 4,000 vacancies in the schools of Sabaragamuwa Province.

I brought this matter to the notice of the President and the education minister of central government and made arrangements to fill those 4,000 vacancies for teachers with their blessings.

Principally, I have accepted that it is not possible to achieve development goals without developing the education of the people at first. We decided to absorb all the university graduates to the teachers service without considering the marks obtained at the exams.

My criteria was to respect the education they received and the knowledge they gathered. In addition 800 were absorbed to education offices and as Tamil teachers.

Q: What do you think about your service you have rendered so far in your 14 years of political career?

A: People expect that I should continue my service to them in the future as well as I have served all the people of Kegalle district and Sabaragamuwa Province without considering the political differences.

By seeing the large crowds at my meetings and events I represent I am sure that they have realised that I have given a value to their vote and it has not gone waste. People know that the results and returns they have got are invaluable.

Graduate teacher opportunities I had given are historical achievements. The highest percentages of Information Technology facilities available at the schools in Sabaragamuwa Province is the highest in the rural level in the country. We have achieved benefits at the national level in this aspect.

An improved road network has been established. Construction of bridges including the 72 Million Rupee new bridge being constructed at Hiriwaduna are further improving the rural road network. Even at this moment these development works are taking place.

In health sector, Rural Electrification and urban development work are continuing. I am proud to mention that in 2007, the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council was selected as the most productive council by the national productivity secretarial office. Only quality work would provide maximum benefits to the people. I am very happy on these aspects.

Q: There are about one thousand more unemployed graduates still in the Sabaragamuwa Province. What is your answer to solve their aspirations?

A: I will certainly provide employment to all of them. I will give a value to the education they have obtained with many difficulties. I never promise on what I cannot do.

The graduates union knows very well that I give due respect to their education and social recognition they deserve.

Q: The supporters of the parties who have lost confidence and popularity have come forward and are joining you for ensuring our victory. Will you provide justice to them?

A: The voters who want to meet and discuss their issues can come and meet me at any time.

There are no intermediate people to arrange meetings.

This is the manner I have served the people for the past 14 years. Even in future I do not give false promises that I cannot fulfill.

Q: You mean you are going to win this election?

A: It is definite as sun rises from the East every morning.