Trust built between North and South:
Change is possible
Power devolution under the 13th Amendments
would end the ethnic problem, Traditional Industries, Small Enterprises
Minister Douglas Devananda says. Excerpts of the interview:
Lakshmi DE SILVA
Q: Your visit to India recently created a political controversy. What
were the reasons for that?
A: In my political life from the beginning I had experienced such
incidents. Mud slinging and accusations were part of it. This particular
incident was also an organized propaganda gimmick to discredit my
political image.
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Minister
Douglas Devananda |
The lawyer who appeared for Nalini, the convict of the Rajiv Gandhi
assassination case had created the problem. I have been to India for
medical treatment and political discussions, met political leaders and
for other reasons on several occasions from 1990. But I never had
problems. This was only to tarnish my political image.
This incident about the death of a person which happened in 1986 was
an accident due to a gun misfiring.
The incident took place on Deepavali day in India. EPRLF comrades Uma
Maheshwaran, Suresh Premachandran and myself were in Southern India and
it was not our fault. Since it was Deepavali there were no doctors at
hospitals. When the injured person was admitted to hospital he died due
to bleeding.
During that period disagreements amongst the armed rebel groups ended
with an assassination. But I always tried to solve problems amicably. In
this instance too I came forward as the EPRLF leader but the LTTE
accused me of the crime which I did not commit.
Q: You have worked as an armed rebel group leader. But now you are a
Cabinet Minister. How do you feel about the two stages?
A: I wore trousers and carried two weapons on either side of my waist
when I was a rebel leader. I wear vetti and shirt and do not carry
weapons now. Though my attire is different, my motivation as a rebel
leader and as a democratic leader has one thing in common. That is to
serve human kind with love and compassion. I always had leftist ideas. I
always fought to protect democracy and for the development of mankind.
Q: What are your prospects in power devolution for the North and East
as a stepping stone for sustainable peace and development?
A: For a long period we were requesting for the 13th Amendment to be
implemented in the North and East. We do not ask for the sun or moon
from the Government. We only ask for a reasonable solution within
provisions of the Constitution.
The Indian Government had agreed to it and President Mahinda
Rajapaksa was also willing to accept that solution. Power devolution
under the 13th Amendment would bring the ethnic problem to an end.
Devolution is now working only for the South. I believe changes could be
effected at this juncture when there is realization and belief among
people to transform themselves to better citizens.
Q: Do you think the Tamil Diaspora can topple the Government with the
support of some Tamils?
A: They are only dreaming.
Q: What do you have to say about your new Ministry and the plans for
the future?
A: Developed countries too had gained from Small and Medium
enterprises. Sri Lanka would also use this method to improve the SME
standard and we are now studying how to improve SME and to gain foreign
investments for such ventures.
For an example Palmyra and Kithul are two options that can be
developed to earn foreign exchange. Now we conduct research to improve
these and other traditional industries.
Special emphasis would be made on women to improve their income and
livelihood and micro enterprises too.
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