Tamil parties follow TERRORIST DOCTRINE

Sandasen Marasinghe Following are the excerpts:

Good Governance and Infrastructure Senior Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka urges each and every one to increase production and invest in whatever field they are engaged in. This would help bring down the cost of living and achieve self-sufficiency. He added that production is the only answer. He made this observation in an interview with the Daily News

Q: As a member who has long experience with parliamentarians of two generations and members in old and new Parliament what are the differences you see in them?

A: The Parliament is a closely knit unit. The former Parliament is a small place. But we don't have it here. This is a large building like a hotel. You don't come in contact with your friends. You have lack of contact here. In those days, even after a heated debate, one would always have tea with each other. That was the political environment in which we lived in at that time.

The understanding between members has waned away as a result of losing contact with each other. We were friends outside the Chamber no matter the party we belonged to in those days. We chatted, cracked jokes and exchanged ideas in a friendly way. But that situation does not prevail now.

Q: You stood always against this preferential vote system from the outset. However, it was in practise since 1978. And why did it take so long to change this system?

A: When there are small parties represented in Parliament, it is a big problem to persuade them to accept this change. We have ultimately succeeded. Let's hope that this success will continue till we go through other governing bodies where this system is in operation. That is the Provincial Council and Parliament.

The preferential vote system brought about people who could spend money for the election campaigns. Money counts a lot with the preferential system. Persons who could spend money are easily assured of a place. This was not the case in those days. From electorate to electorate, the people elected their nominee and each nominee who won had a connection with the voter.

The MP concerned had close contacts with the constituents. That is how democracy worked. Unfortunately, with the introduction of the preferential vote system, the connection between the voter and the elected MP disappeared. That is very unfortunate. Now in the Pradeshiya Sabaha's hereafter, we will be able to bring about that close rapport between the voter and the elected person. But we will not see this feature in the Provincial Councils and Parliament until we adopt measures to that degree.

For democracy to succeed, the close contact between the voter and the MP are very important indeed, I hope we will be able to convince those parties and get this piece of legislation through, so that democracy will be consolidated.

Q: You have been representing the people of Horana since March 19, 1960. Since then you have represented many progressive governments. How do you feel about the present government in this light.

A: This government is responsible for the implementation of a large number of development programmes. No other government, if I remember correct, has launched so many development programmes. Although the country is witnessing so many development projects, the people should be made more aware about these projects. Construction of roads, culverts and bridges are taking place in a big way. People should realize that if we are to become self-sufficient in our basic needs, transport is a vital factor. A good road network is essential to transport our produce.

Q: Research has revealed that Sri Lanka is at top of the lists of countries that tourists should visit.

A: Yes, development has caught the eyes of the world and tourism has gained great momentum. The people are aware of what is available in our country for people to come and see. They are aware that within a few hours that people can travel to a place with a different climate. The warmth of our people when welcoming visitors and foreigners have also contributed to a large extent. That is the success of the tourism story.

Q: There are various protests staged, sometimes by university students, lecturers and so on. But some governments had attempted to suppress such protests. Your comments.

A: Protests are normal in a democratic country. Why should a government suppress them. The feelings of the people should come out. We must, as Buddhists, be very tolerant. If there is a problem, we must listen to that. And try our best to solve it, if we can. But suppression is not the answer. Tolerance is the answer.

Democracy is guaranteed in the country. That is why the people can come out with their grievances by means of protests as well. In a dictatorial government that is not allowed or permitted.

Q: People say that you are a people's politician representing Horana. Now there are plans to extend the railway line to Horana bringing development to those areas.

A: They are part and parcel of the development programmes. Not only to Horana, the railway line must be extended to Ratnapura. And from Ratnapura to Kataragama. These are all development programmes which have been drawn up. It might not happen within a year, but it will certainly take place. There is a proposal to extend the coastal railway to Kataragama. These are all important factors.

Easy and comfortable transport are two pre-requisites for the development of the tourism industry. Peace and political stability are another two pre-requisites. One should be able to go from one place to the other with ease and comfort.

Q: You are one of the few leaders who maintained unwaveringly at all times that terrorism and LTTE in the country should be defeated militarily.

A: Not only in Sri Lanka, wherever it is, terrorism should be wiped out. Terrorism and democracy cannot exist together. Because terrorism represents aggressive methods of operations which are contradictory to the principles of democracy. Terrorism cannot be tolerated at all. No negotiations can take place with terrorists. If that happens in other words you will be accepting terrorism as a form of government.

Q: The government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa remarkably achieved this victory. With the restoration of democracy and the return of normalcy, people have begun to forget all these by and by. But the fact of the matter is that the terrorist friendly groups, organizations, LTTE friendly diaspora and forces inimical to the country are still haunting in the international sphere. What have you got to say in this regard.

A: We can't be happy and content with wiping out the terrorist movement in this country. The terrorist remnants are there under various guises. Tamil speaking people who are living abroad are still collecting funds. They have not stopped their operations.

We do not know for what reason they are still collecting funds. So this is a big problem for us. And the Tamil parties representing Parliament still follow the terrorist doctrine to a great extent. If these parties toed this line in the past when terrorism was alive,we could have thought that they were doing so out of fear for their lives. But, these terrorist threats are non existent today. I don't see the logic behind their approach. By following the same line, they are sending wrong signals to the rest of the country.

Q: Though we are a sovereign nation,our country still faces many hindrances from the international sphere. How do you explain this situation?

A: We have to expect these things from the international community. We must understand that we were a colony. And these people still think that they can keep us as a colony for their markets. So we have to always expect, that some Western countries trying to create obstacles to our country's progress. That does not mean that we should declare war against them.

We must be friendly with all. Contacts are very important. After all, we Sri Lankans have a right to govern the country in the way we want, not in the way that they want. This is the message that we have to give them and make them understand that our masters are the people of the country, not anybody else. Once that is understood by these foreign powers, there will be no problems in co-habiting with them.

Q: Sri Lanka has been successful in many fields. We are self-sufficient in rice for the first time in history under this government, after colonial rulers broke it. It could be achieved using home-grown strategies amidst many crisis in the global sphere, including food crisis, economic recess etc. How could we face the challenge of developing the country when the world is confronted with a greater crisis?

A: Some people think that development means following the Western pattern in all forms. It is not so. We have a culture of our own, we have a civilization of our own. We have a very strong and rich history behind us. Therefore, we should not be servants of any science or technology. On the contrary, we should guide science and technology to help the people. Buddhism as a philosophy has taught us how to live happily among us with tolerance, kindness and understanding of others’ problems. These are inborn in us. Whatever development programmes that we undertake should be in accordance with these principles which are very close to our lives.

Q: The people are complaining about the cost of living all over the world. How could we face this issue in our country?

A: Everybody is talking about the cost of living today. The Cost of Living can be brought down only if production goes up. I urge everyone, each and everyone to contribute to invest to bring about production in whatever field he or she is engaged in. Production is the only answer.

If we produce more, the cost of living would go down. This is my earnest appeal to all.

Q: Is there any particular field that we should increase our production?

A: We can't be importing things like Mun Eta (green gram) every day. They can be grown here. Even milk foods can be produced here. We have made great advances in these fields. But still there is a gap to fill. We are not self-sufficient in everything. When self-sufficiency in food is achieved, that would be our success story.