‘Time needed to implement LLRC recommendations’

The LLRC report is the first ever in-depth study conducted on the ethnic issue. Therefore, it takes time to study it carefully and take measures to implement its recommendations. We cannot let this report create a new conflict by taking action hastily, said Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage during an interview with the Daily News

Following are extracts of the interview:

Q: What do you think about the human rights allegations against Sri Lanka in Geneva?

A: The main objective of this human rights campaign now going on Geneva with the leadership of certain Western and European countries is to make one of their puppets sit on the Sri Lankan President's chair. President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not give into their pressure during the humanitarian operation. Some foreign ministers of those countries visited Sri Lanka during the humanitarian operation and tried their best to save LTTE leader Prabhakaran. But our President did not give in. Now our President has become a threat to them because he has become a very strong leader in Asia.

They are planning to achieve the same target that they failed to achieve through the LTTE's barbaric and ruthless terrorism.

Q: What are your plans this year for the Sports Ministry to push forward Mahinda Chinthanaya - Vision for the Future?

A: Some proposals in the Mahinda Chinthanaya - Vision for the Future have already been put into action and the rest of the proposals are now being implemented. Sports have been taken to villages. Earlier sports facilities were available only in Colombo and in the Western Province.

For the first time in history, Rs. 4.5 billion is allocated for the advancement of sports. Sports complexes will be built at provincial level (nine complexes), district level (25 complexes) and Divisional Secretariat level (314).

This project will be completed by 2016. Now any talented sportsman or sportswoman living in a rural village can improve as opportunities are open for them.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa proposed to establish a sports economy and a sports culture in Sri Lanka. Arrangements have been made to improve the physical fitness of state sector employees. This will be the first phase of developing a sports culture in Sri Lanka and establishing an effective public service.

Three selected sports which are athletics, netball and badminton will be upgraded to world standard. In the first phase these three sports will be developed and brought to the highest level in Asia. This will be carried out on a four year plan.

Beach sports such as beach volleyball will be upgraded with the coordination of the Tourist Board. Motor racing and motorcycle racing will be upgraded. Night racing re-commenced in Sri Lanka recently after 33 years. There is a huge demand from foreign countries for such sports activities.

Q: How do you see the past two years of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term in office?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid all his attention towards eradicating terrorism during his first term. He successfully eradicated terrorism and brought permanent peace to the motherland relieving people of suffering. But he never forgot national development during that period. In the middle of the humanitarian operation, he carried out a massive development drive in the entire country. There were two main challenges for Sri Lanka in 2005. They were ending the war and achieving development. The first target has already been achieved successfully. Now President Rajapaksa is on the way towards development taking it to the villages. President Rajapaksa will achieve both these targets within 10 years.

Q: Comment on the LLRC report and the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC).

A: The LLRC report is a very good answer not only to the international community but also to the local people. Everyone accepted the LLRC report. The TNA is still having the LTTE ideology among them. It is TNA only by its name.

We can never satisfy them. It takes time to implement the recommendations of the LLRC report. It cannot be done within a day or two. Arrangements have already been made to implement the recommendations and relevant ministries have been assigned to do so. Since the LLRC report is the first ever in-depth study conducted on the ethnic issue, it takes time to study it carefully and take all the measures to implement its recommendations. We cannot let this report create a new conflict by taking action hastily.

The United National Party (UNP) will miss the second golden opportunity to be a part of the victory and progress of mother Lanka if they decide not to take part in the PSC on solving the ethnic issue. The UNP received the first golden opportunity to be a part of the victory of the country and to win the hearts of the public when they had the chance to support the government during the humanitarian operation. But unfortunately they missed it. Now they have another chance to achieve the same by taking part in the PSC. They will never receive another chance like this.

The UNP does not like to take part in the PSC. They know President Rajapaksa will solve the issue justifiably and permanently through the PSC. Once it is solved the UNP will not be able to come to power for many years. They cannot come to power without the existence of the ethnic issue because they will not have any topic for their propaganda. This shows the racism of the UNP. Both the TNA and JVP should take part in the PSC if they genuinely love and care about the Tamil community living in Sri Lanka. But still the TNA and the UNP is doing politics using the ethnic issue.

Q: What will be the impact of the JVP split and the UNP internal crisis?

A: A country needs a strong government as well as a strong Opposition. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already pointed this out. A democratic country needs a strong Opposition. As government MPs we like to have a weak Opposition. The UNP’s internal conflict started because it did not carry out its duty as the Opposition. The JVP split is very unfortunate. The government cannot be responsible for these conflicts and splits. The JVP is nothing for the government after facing the world's most ruthless terrorist organization. Therefore, taking arms will not be a problem for the government.

Q: Who is behind the recent unrest in universities and other sections in the country?

A: The situation in state universities is very unfortunate. It was Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake who went into the university system and broke the authority of the JVP and stopped ragging. Earlier, the JVP did not allow any other political party to do politics inside universities, learn English etc. It is already proved that the JVP beliefs and concepts are wrong. They do not have power today. They are powerless. Therefore, they are now furious. We cannot let the JVP destroy the future intelligent generation of this country.

Q: The Sri Lankan cricket team experienced a set back in the recent past. Comment.

A: In cricket, sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. This is the nature of cricket. In the past we faced tough competition from the West Indies but today it has changed. We were very weak in the past but doing much better now. I sincerely hope that the Sri Lankan cricket team will march forward successfully in the future under the leadership of new captain Mahela Jayawardena. There will be no problems in the future. The team has already shown success in the past few weeks.

Q: It seems that various sports associations are acting for the downfall of sports rather than upgrading them. Comment.

A: There are very serious problems in sports associations. The Gunasekara Report indicates the existence of such problems. The Sports Ministry received many complaints. The National Sports Policy will solve all these problems. Steps have been taken to amend outdated acts. All relevant rules, regulations and bills have already been formulated. Cabinet approval has already been received for the National Sports Policy. It will be presented in Parliament by next month (April).

Q: Any message to the public?

A: As a country, war was the biggest problem Sri Lanka ever had. Now it is over. President Mahinda Rajapaksa solved it but no other previous leader could do so. The Tamil Diaspora created serious problems but President Rajapaksa showed the whole world that nobody can make him dance according to their tune.

Now all those evil elements try to take revenge from him. Now they try to turn the country back and make Sri Lanka a puppet of the West. They try to make one of their henchmen sit on President's chair.

The people of Sri Lanka should understand this and act against it. There is no human rights issue in this. We have to defeat the conspirators’ agenda. We hope that the public will act intelligently and will not fall prey for this international trap.