The people’s voice through election results

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

A former Police Officer Janaka Bandara Tennekoon entered politics following the footsteps of his illustrious father, former Minister T.B. Tennekoon.

Now he is holding the key Ministerial Portfolio of Provincial Councils and Local Government. The Daily News interviewed him soon after the victory at the Uva Provincial Council where the Government secured more than two thirds majority.

He says that the UNP had to face a humiliating defeat because it could not become a partner to the unprecedented victory that the nation achieved against LTTE terrorism and predicts that the Government would secure 85 percent votes at the Southern Provincial Council Election.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Q: The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has won all Provincial Council elections held this year including the just concluded Uva Provincial Council with an unprecedented majority. There is a perception that the Government is gaining all these victories at elections owing to the victory achieved by the Security Forces against the LTTE. Is that the only reason behind these victories?

A: No. It is not the only factor. The defeat of the LTTE by the Security Forces is certainly a major factor. There is no doubt about it. But there are several other factors which had immensely contributed to these victories.

The development goals achieved by the Government at a time the entire world including Sri Lanka was affected by global recession, was carried another major contributing factor to our victory. For instance, the upgrading of the road network, the provision of electricity to more than 75 percent of the population, the marked improvement of communication facilities and the information carried through development of mass communications have encouraged the people to think in a new way. They are now in a position to identify what is wrong and right. So no one can deny that we have neglected development.

Even in the agriculture sector we have seen a marked improvement. Now all people are engaged in cultivating their lands. Even we who used to tell the people to cultivate their lands are now cultivating our own lands. That was a change for the better. Therefore, the victory against the LTTE was not the only factor behind our victories. Even through that victory, the Government set an example to the entire world and convinced the people that they have a Government with a clear program. The Government achieved that victory in a systematic manner. I was also part of the war earlier as a Police Officer. Now we realise the blunders we committed in the past. During that period we had no proper guidance, no proper leadership and management. Compared to that period we have a good leadership comprising President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary and Forces Commanders and a Police Chief. It was a good combination to achieve that victory. At the same time we were able to convince the people that we can also develop the country in the same manner we defeated the LTTE. That was the prime reason behind our success.

Q: The voter bases of the United National Party and the JVP have eroded at the Uva Provincial Council election and they faced a humiliating defeat. As a Government Minister, how do you see their defeat. What were the reasons behind their defeat?

A: The Opposition used to underestimate the military victories and ridicule them saying that we have gone to Medawachchiya when we captured Kilinochchi, and we have gone only to Pamankada when the Forces captured Alimankada (Elephant Pass).

The Security Forces and the Government could achieve this victory because of the blessings of the people. People made many sacrifices to achieve this victory and became partners of this victory. But the UNP was not with people. They were awaiting to see the Security Forces getting defeated in the war. That was why people rejected the UNP.

The UNP cannot come out of this situation now because there is no leadership to compete with President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Even if Ranil Wickremesinghe resigns from the leadership there is no one to replace him in the party. But the JVP was with the Government for the betterment of the country. We knew that they have come to the Parliament from our voter base.

But we don’t feel bad about it because they were with us to do good things. That is why we keep silent on their acts. They could not give proper leadership to their entire membership. They were put to this situation due to wrong decisions by certain leaders. They distanced from us after eating the UNP’s dead ropes. Now they are facing repercussions of their narrow political decisions.

Q: At the recent elections the Government could not win the Vavuniya Urban Council although it could won the Jaffna Municipal Council. How do you see this situation? Have Tamil people rejected the Government in Vavuniya?

A: Tamil people have not rejected us. We won the Jaffna Municipal Council, the heart of the Tamil people. But our defeat at the Vavuniya Urban Council is a good thing. Because it reflects that the elections were free and fair. Otherwise, the UNP would say that election was rigged. At the Vavuniya Election we have obtained 24 percent votes. The UNP has obtained only a few votes. Therefore, the UNP too could not get the support of the Tamil people.

One thing we must remember is that Jaffna was a stronghold of the SLFP. When Hector Kobbekaduwa contested the Presidential Election, he won the Jaffna district. During the Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s regime the Tamil people voted for her. The SLFP always had a voter base in Jaffna. Even during the Chandrika Bandaranaike’s period she was well accepted by the Tamil people there. So, we cannot see our defeat in Vavuniya as a rejection of the Government by the Tamil people. We should remember that Alfred Duraiappa the first politician assassinated by the LTTE in Jaffna was from the SLFP.

But on one hand, we have won strongholds of the UNP. Even we could not imagine such a huge victory in the Uva province which was considered a stronghold of the UNP. Therefore, the victory of the UPFA clearly reflects how people have changed their attitudes. They have displayed their desire for a peaceful and prosperous country through this victory.

Q: The Southern Provincial Council has been dissolved. The Government is optimistic about its victory in the Southern Provincial Council Election. However, there is one huge challenge ahead of the Government, to hold Northern Provincial Council elections. How long would it take?

A: We can hold elections even now. But, the intention of conducting election is to elect people’s representatives. To fulfill that, we need to create an environment where the common masses can live peacefully in their own province in their own homes, providing education to their children whilst engaged in their livelihood. We cannot hold elections whilst keeping them inside welfare centres and providing them meals.

We have to create a better environment for them by providing them with better livelihoods. Even a small child can understand this situation.

But the Opposition is making a hue and cry about the Northern Provincial Council. We can hold elections. But it is a waste of money. We can hold elections once they are resettled in their own homes. Then only they can think of an election. They can think afresh only then, because they did not have freedom, a proper sleep for the past 30 years. Once they are provided with all infrastructure, roads, electricity, education and occupations they will think afresh about their political view. Earlier, they had to depend on their relatives living abroad. Even that money was extorted by the LTTE. Some people may have donated money because their visas have been extended considering the situation in the country. That was what really happened. Now these people are enjoying real freedom. That is what they want. Our aim is to enable them to enjoy that freedom and then go for an election to choose their representatives in a free and fair election for the Northern Provincial Council.

Q: One significant problem in the Provincial Council system is about the allocation of funds to the Provincial Councils. This complaint is a frequent one. As the Minister in charge of the Provincial Councils subject how are you going to deal with this problem?

A: It is not practical to give everything free by allocating funds to the Provincial Councils. We should stop this system. Each Provincial Council has their own income generating system.

They should develop systems within the Provincial Council to raise their income. For instance, I will take one Pradeshiya Sabha. They have a beautiful waterfall there. They can develop that place to attract tourists and they can encourage people there to sell their products to those tourists. That Pradeshiya Sabha implemented that proposal and they could increase their income. In the same manner others also can raise their income level.

We have been used to waiting till the Government allocate funds for all activities. I am not complaining. That is how we were used to do things. They are awaiting to obtain things from the Government without thinking a way they can make a contribution to the Government. We should go towards that system. It is with greater difficulty we allocate funds for the Provincial Councils.

We had to do that while providing free health facilities, education and of course fighting a war. So things are not that easy. More than 50 percent taxpayers are evading tax payment. Then how can we manage a Government? But we still allocate funds to the Provincial Councils with greater difficulty. That should not go on forever. We should go for a new system to raise the income level. That is my stance on this issue.

Q: Then is there any program to assist the Provincial Councils to raise their income level?

A: Chief Ministers have powers to find their own income generating methods. They have the liberty to do that.

Q: Your Ministry is responsible for the provision of required training for capacity building. How are training programs carried out?

A: We are conducting training programs 365 days a year at the Provincial Council and at the Local Government Training Institute. We have provided separate offices for each Provincial Council. We have trained them after obtaining foreign assistance.

But there are people who do nothing after undergoing training. At least they should speak to their people. People should feel comfortable when dealing with them. We should set examples to others.

Q: By this time almost all the Provincial Council Elections have been won by the ruling UPFA. There is a perception that the forthcoming Southern Provincial Council election will also be won by it. So what will be your overall plan for the Provincial Councils?

A: I am sure that we can obtain more than 85 percent vote. With that victory we all can work towards one goal. There is no one to drag our feet. We have a good leader who can feel the common man’s problems.

Therefore we all can take this country forward without any barriers. That is the great victory we have achieved.