People’s sovereignty is in Parliament

President Rajapaksa, most loved President in country’s history - Minister Mahindananda Aluthgmage

Excerpts from the Interview:

Nadira Gunatilleke

Q: After Independence, this can be described as an era which local and foreign anti Sri Lankan elements are trying their best to destroy the country. Why is Sri Lanka facing so many conspiracies in this era?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his United People’s freedom Alliance (UPFA) was able to successfully end the 30 year long war. The LTTE and the Tamil Diaspora tried their best to stop the eradication of terrorism and killing of LTTE Leader Prabhakaran through the international community. The best example for this, was the arrival of French and British foreign Ministers to Sri Lanka. They demanded a ceasefire but President Rajapaksa was able to defeat all those conspiracies and complete the humanitarian operation. This grand victory made world powers cower before Sri Lanka. Certain world powers considered our victory as a defeat of theirs. That was the start of the conspiracies.

All of them wanted to destroy the country and defeat the UPFA Government but they cannot do it because of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Our President stands in the way of the conspirators. The conspirators have failed miserably in their attempts to tarnish the country’s image.

All anti Sri Lankan elements united to attack President Rajapaksa. Their very first `mission’ was putting a strong man who can give a good challenge for the Presidential election. This is how for the first time in the UNP’s history that an outsider (former army chief) was introduced as the Presidential candidate. But it was a mission impossible and a failed mission because people were well aware of their gimmicks. Their attempt to take the people for a ride failed.

The second `mission’ was using the former Chief Justice. They could not see any other way of toppling the UPFA Government other than using the CJ, because the people are with the government. The rural people of this country had nothing to do with the CJ or the impeachment motion. It was a handful of English speaking people in the towns who were behind this conspiracy.

Q: All conspiracies launched so far with the aim of destroying the country were defeated by the Sri Lankan public. Why are people continuing to protect this government?

A: The people love this country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government. No other President or a government in the history Sri Lanka had so much popularity among the people. People really love our President because he feels the pulse of the people and understands their problems.

He solved the people’s problems and continues to do so. That is how he became the People’s President. That is why Sri Lankan people protect him and stand by him.

Q: What will be the future targets of local and foreign anti Sri Lankan elements?

A: The anti Sri Lankan elements will not stop with this failed second ‘mission’. They will launch many other evil missions to destroy President Rajapaksa. Their nearest target is bringing in anti Sri Lankan resolutions at the next UNHRC sessions to be held in Geneva in March.

There may be many more evil plans hatched by the conspirators for the future. It is the US which is the biggest war criminal, which violates the human rights of innocent people in many countries, but nothing is said and done about it by anybody.

Q: Where is people’s sovereignty? How can it be safe guarded?

A: The people’s sovereignty is in the Legislature (Parliament) because people’s sovereignty is the people’s verdict. The people had given a clear verdict deciding as to who their representatives in Parliament should be. Therefore, the people’s sovereignty is in Parliament. All constitutions in the world have shortcomings. India amended its Constitution on 96 occasions. Some countries in the world amend the Constitution as soon as the judiciary gives an anti Government verdict, but, Sri Lanka has not done this.

Q: How do you see the behaviour of the media when it comes to reporting conspiracies against the country and crime?

A: Some sections of the media identified the issue accurately and acted accordingly. Some editorials were perfect when it comes to criticizing the issue. There are certain media which always see only the shortcomings and attack the government, no matter what it does. It is 50 to 50. Some sections of the media acted accurately and some did not. Some media created an isolated opinion and stood for it.

Q: All Indian lawyers got together and decided not to appear for the rapists accused of killing a medical student. What do you think about the behaviour of Sri Lankan lawyers?

A: The behaviour of some Sri Lankan lawyers during the recent past was very censurable. It was not all Sri Lankan lawyers. A handful of lawyers acted in a very biased way. This is not a surprise when we look at the persons who gave leadership for those lawyers. Leadership was given to them by local and foreign LTTE supporters, NGOs and all types of anti Sri Lankan elements which tried their best to save Prabhakaran and create trouble in the country during the humanitarian operation. They are getting paid by the Tamil Diaspora. The most pathetic part was the support they received from certain local lawyers.

The worst damage caused by the conspiracy was people losing the respect they had for the judiciary. Lawyers smashed coconuts near court premises and raised black flags. Those things had never happened in Sri Lanka’s history. Lawyers should have acted more wisely. On the other hand, the conspiracy brought some positive results too. Earlier, all saw only the faults of the Executive and the Legislature (Parliament). But now the public received a golden opportunity to see the shortcomings of the judiciary. Now all can get together and seek solutions for the problems. President Rajapaksa is now working towards amending the Constitution.

Q: Do you have any message for the Sri Lankan public at this juncture?

A: The Sri Lankan public should never forget the dark era, when children who went to school faced the danger of not coming back alive and parents who went to work did not come back alive. Members of the Armed Forces came home in sealed caskets. Now the entire country is free and all enjoy freedom. But certain elements are hell-bent on taking the country back to the dark era. The Sri Lankan public can prevent this by being with the government. The public should stand by the government.