Finding a remedy to renal diseases in NCP

Nimal WIJESINGHE, Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

Dr. Channa Sudath Jayasumana, UPFA candidate contesting the General Election from the Anuradapura District says his prime objective is to address the issue of renal disease spreading in the province. The 30-year-old doctor told the Daily News by becoming a Parliament member he hopes to draw national and international attention to the disease to find a remedy. Following are excerpts of the interview.

Q: What made you to enter politics?

A: I sympathized with those who were suffering from renal diseases in areas such as Kebithigollewa, Padaviya, Dimbulagala and Medirigiriya. Today, there are nearly 10,000 such kidney patients. I decided to enter politics to represent these unfortunate people.

Dr. Channa Sudath Jayasumana

Being a doctor, I hope to gain additional strength to win local and international attention on the disease. I launched a medical research with the participation of the staff of the Rajarata University's medical faculty targeting the rapidly spreading disease in 2007.

Q: Are you trying to obtain more preference votes over other UPFA contestants?

A: This type of political culture should be done away with. People are well aware of my dedicated service as a young medical practicener in preventing the spread of kidney diseases, about the free seminars, workshops and about my intervention in offering scholarships to children of low-income families in the district.

University undergraduates and the staff members support my election campaign. My other aim is to mould a group of youth to take up the challenge of developing the province.

I never encourage violence and never offer alcohol or cigarettes to my supporters. I have openly rejected political thuggery and political hatred.

Q: Do you think that President Rajapaksa is capable of achieving economic emancipation for the nation?

A: Yes of course. The President has proved his strength, patriotism, honesty and dedication in his deeds and above all the great statesmanship. He freed the country from the diabolical grip of Prabhakaran in four years which four executive Presidents couldn't do for over 30 years. He is physically, mentally and politically competent.

Q: If you have been elected what will be your priorities in serving the people in Rajarata?

A: Whether I have been elected or rejected I never give up my ambition to serve the people in the province.

However, being a Parliamentarian one of my priorities is to find a permanent solution to the spread of renal diseases.

I am highly concerned about the youth in the region. I have proposed to the President to have a colonization zone starting from Padaviya to the Iranamadu range. It is a six year program. There will be a number of agro-based industrial projects, townships, housing schemes, irrigational development projects, where the youth will have ample job opportunities.

I also firmly believe in tank based culture and economy in our province. I have suggested to the President to start a giant program to rehabilitate 10,000 micro tanks, 2,500 medium scale tanks and 100 reservoirs. This will revive the past glory and splendour in Rajarata.

Q: How will you assist the farmer community in Rajarata in empowering them?

A: The present structure of the Paddy Marketing Board should be changed to enable the Management Board to take timely decisions regarding the purchasing prices. The Board shall not be confined only to buy some paddy only. It can buy other crops too including fruits and vegetables at a reasonable price competing with the private sector.

The institute will be provided ample funds, storage and transport facilities.

The Management Board should comprise independent persons. The Board will be the lifeline of the Government's Let's cultivate - let's build the country food drive.