A determined leader for Wellassa

Bandula Gunasekara and T.K. Ariyadasa

People of Wellassa have rallied around the UPFA eschewing their political differences for an overwhelming victory for the Government in Wellassa at the forthcoming Uva Provincial Council election of August 8.

As a person hailing from Ruhuna with close links with exemplary leaders of the region Basnayaka Nilame of Maha Devalaya Kataragama, Shasheendra Kumara Rajapaksa believes it would not be a difficult task for him to discharge services to people in Uva.

Shasheendra Rajapaksa UPFA group leader of the Moneragala District for the forthcoming Uva Provincial Council Election expressed these views in an interview with the Daily News.

Eleven members will be elected from the Moneragala District and 21 from the Badulla District.

There will be 814 polling stations in the respective two districts. Number of voters eligible to cast their votes at this election according to 2008 voters register will be 875,456 and of this number 574,814 voters are from Badulla District and 300,642 from Moneragala District.

Rajapaksa said he was fully confident that the people of Wellassa would give a mandate to the UPFA to secure a landslide victory at the election which is held for the first time in a united Sri Lanka.

With the result of this Provincial election we should show the whole world that we are working hand in hand with the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa's Government for his valiant efforts to unite the country and protect territorial integrity.

Q: Could you briefly comment on the reaction of the people of Uva relating to the current political development?

A: By now, all sections of the people in Uva may be all under one banner sheding petty differences to strengthen the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the victory of the UPFA.

So, I need not explain to the people of Uva-Wellassa how the election could be won.

At almost every election in the past, intelligent voters of Wellassa had cast their votes to elect representatives who could serve them best. I therefore make this a fine opportunity to work closely with them.

Q: How would you explain your connections with the Moneragala district and Uva Wellassa as a person hailing from the South?

A: I have the privilege to trace close connections with a well disciplined generation of honest politicians in a district adjacent to Moneragala and I have also read primary lessons of politics under such respectable leaders.

As private secretary to a great leader who has united this country under a strong and stable Government while attracting some of the staunch U.N.P. members, I had been watching with interest his political judgements at various stages. So, I stepped into politics with a good knowledge of responsibilities and strength of such activists in the SLFP.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is my political guru and it is after I became the Basnayaka Nilame of Ruhunu-Kataragama Maha Devalaya four years ago I got a clear picture of the Moneragala district.

The historic sacred city of Kataragama had been sanctified by the God Kataragama. Being the Basnayaka Nilame of Kataragama Devalaya, it became a meeting point to form contacts with the people of Moneragala and to get an understanding of their problems.

With that firsthand knowledge I must tell the people of Wellassa that we are not poor, we can rise above and I would be with them constantly to lead them.

Q: If the political leadership of Uva entrusted to you how would you carry out your duty?

A: I am honestly dedicated to provide leadership to the common people of Uva Wellassa to fulfill their aspirations.

My foremost request to them today is as relations of Wellassa we should all work as members of a family forgetting all differences.

The scourge of terrorism is over now. So there is no need for party differences. There is not a single poster of the UNP in the Moneragala district.

The patriotic people of Moneragala would keep confidence in the UPFA. I came to Wellassa as an activists of the SLFP.

Some of those in the UNP who love this country are joining us in large numbers to re-awaken Wellassa.

I would request the masses in Uva Wellassa to join the forefront to build a prosperous country and a nation under the able leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who has a farsighted vision.