By Skandha Gunasekara
As the country gears up for its eighth presidential election, the North Western Province populace, while most remain largely undecided on who to support, seems to be heavily influenced by the Easter bombings and national security, and are calling for a peaceful country where communities co-exist in harmony – their demand from the future president of the land.
With Kurunegala being one of the most populated districts in the country, the North Western Province has an estimated population of 2.5 million people.
Traditionally, the North Western Province is home to the Coconut Triangle with the Puttalam and Kurunegala Districts contributing to a majority of the coconut production in the country.
The significance of coconut production comes with its marketable and exportable goods with a total export value of Rs. 74.7 billion ($ 420 million) for the period between January and August 2019 – up from Rs. 62.3 billion ($ 396.8 million) for the same period in 2018.
There are a total 917,307 smallholder coconut cultivators in addition to the 178,675 estates in Sri Lanka, as per the Coconut Development Authority data.
Demands for fertiliser subsidy
Considering the importance coconut cultivation has on our export market as well as domestic consumption, it is key that politicians address issues faced by the industry, particularly smallholders.
A.R.M.R. Bandara (52) is one such smallholder who has a coconut cultivation just on the outskirts of Kurunegala town.
He was standing by the side of the Kurunegala-Puttalam Road, selling coconuts.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Bandara said that the main demands of the coconut cultivators were a fertiliser subsidy and agricultural equipment.
“They promised us a fertiliser subsidy during the last election, but we never got it. Now, they are making the same promise this time around too.”
In addition to fertiliser, Bandara said that many in the area need financial assistance as well as proper housing.
“If they can provide us with low-interest loans, it would be very helpful. Many here just need that little financial boost to get things going, whether it’s a business or making a new home. Housing is also a serious problem here with many families struggling to earn enough to build more modern homes.”
He said that he had not yet decided on whom to vote for at this election despite having voted for the United National Party (UNP) at the last election.
“I’m still unsure whom to vote for. During the last Government’s time, they provided us with a fertiliser subsidy, but this Government did not even do that.”
An acquaintance of Bandara by the name of Namal Priyantha (55) however, had already picked his candidate.
“Last time also I voted for a Rajapaksa and this time too, I will be voting the same way,” he said.
Priyantha works as a driver and his demand was that the Government repairs the road that he lives down as it had never been properly tarred.
“We need a proper road where we live. The lane that we currently walk down is gravel. It was fine 10 years ago but people have got vehicles now. I have a three-wheeler and my son has a motorbike.
Tired of living in fear
Following the Easter Sunday terror attacks this year, there were retaliatory communal riots against the Muslim community in May – especially in the North Western Province.
Minuwangoda town on the road to Kurunegala was affected the most.
Kurunegala too saw some violence with several mosques in the area being attacked with petrol bombs.
A.C.M. Farook (76), a small time businessman now retired, said that he had been voting for the UNP for the past 50-odd years.
He said that the only demand he and his family had was to bring about harmony among the different communities.
“We are tired of living in fear. The bombings were a tragedy and we condemn it. But soon after the attack, there were riots and the Muslim community was targeted,” he said.
He said that the country must achieve true peace if it was to truly develop.
“I have one son and four daughters. Only one daughter is in Sri Lanka while the rest of my children left for foreign countries to look for work. Now, they don’t want to return because they fear living in our motherland. All we ask is to be able to live in peace with our brothers and sisters from all communities,” Farook said, adding that whoever finally becomes president has the responsibility of healing the nation.
Farook’s neighbour Mohammed Asif (53) said that he and his family were always afraid of anti-Muslim riots being incited again.
“When the riots began in May, soon after the Easter attacks, we were terrified. We heard reports of people being assaulted and houses and shops of Muslims being burnt down. That fear is still there within us.”
He said that at previous elections, he had voted for the UNP.
“But this year I’m still undecided. We just want a peaceful country where our children can live happily,” he said.
In addition, he pointed out that some villagers had been discouraged to vote at past elections due to the distance to polling stations.
“Last time, several didn’t vote as the polling stations were far away. We hope this time they would have more polling booths so as to make it easier for the voters.”
In Puttalam, livelihoods are split between coconut cultivating, fisheries, and agriculture.
Puttalam town is home to many coconut cultivators along with traders.
S. Wimalathunga (52), a driver by profession, expressing his views on the current political situation, said that he sees both candidates as two sides of the same coin.
“If one comes they say the country will be divided. If the other comes he and his family will ruin the country and cause further unrest among the communities. All of them are the same. They benefit while the country and the people suffer.”
He said that most people were engaged in coconut cultivation and agriculture.
“People here need a fertiliser subsidy. Apart from a peaceful country, that is the demand the people here have. They just want to be able to do their jobs properly so that they can earn for their families.”
Cut-outs and posters of the presidential candidates were also seen at some locations in the North Western Province.
En route to Puttalam from Kurunegala, several larger-than-life cut-outs of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa could be seen along the road side.
Several instances of posters stuck on to walls like graffiti were also witnessed along the way.
The Puttalam District, which includes Kalpitiya and Chilaw, is with one of the largest fish producing districts in the country.
There are 10,760 fishing households with a total 19,000 fishermen and fisherwomen.
In 2017 alone, the Puttalam District produced an estimated 72,280 metric tonnes of fish, second only to the Hambantota District which produced 77,380 metric tonnes that same year, according to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Moving further East towards Kalpitiya, the local trade is quickly dominated by fishing.
Hundreds of fishing boats can be seen beached along the Kalpitiya shoreline.
One such fisherman, Sebastian Dickson (23), untangling his nets along the beach, said that he was frustrated with Sri Lankan politics and governance.
“They come to us during the election making all kinds of promises but no sooner the election is over, we are forgotten. All of them are the same. Only their party colour changes.”
He said that he demanded the future government look into the plight of the fishing community.
“All we want to do is to be able to earn enough to live a good life. Currently, we barely make ends meet.”
He said that the fuel subsidy was essential for the fisheries sector.
“We spend so much on our fuel but the amount of fish we catch is reducing each year. Then we have to go into deeper waters requiring us to spend more on fuel. This is a hectic cycle and we are unable to sustain this lifestyle.”
Meanwhile, M.A.M. Sabur (37) is the owner of several fishing vessels.
He has been in the trade for over 15 years and currently owns five fishing boats.
Sabur charged that a future Government should reduce fuel prices altogether.
“The fuel prices continue to sky rocket. We don’t understand why. The global fuel prices have dropped. The Government introduced a fuel price formula but all that has done is periodically increase fuel prices. This is an injustice.”
He said that the terror attacks had also diminished the blossoming tourism industry.
“We were doing well because of the tourism uptick after the war ended. My boats could be used for whale and dolphin watching. But now, we have had to revert back to fishing which does not even come close to bringing us similar earnings.”
He noted that he too would be voting for Sajith Premadasa and the New Democratic Front (NDF) at the upcoming election.
“We voted for the UNP in the past and we will do so at this election as well. We just hope that our problems are addressed the way they have promised to do so in the past years.”
A candidate with a military background
Travelling further south, The Sunday Morning observed more cut-outs and posters – this time of NDF presidential candidate Premadasa.
Several bus stands on the road to Chilaw from Puttalam were covered in posters of Sajith Premadasa.
The town of Chilaw in the Puttalam District is predominantly a fishing town famous for its wide swaths of beaches used to dry fish.
Theresa Warnakulasooriya (53), just like the hundreds of other vendors, was selling dry fish on the Chilaw beach.
When asked of her views on the upcoming presidential election, she said that she did not have much hope that the problems of her community would be resolved.
“They come during election time and make various promises but never keep these promises once they have taken our vote and get into political office.”
She said that the communities there depended heavily on fishing to earn a living.
“For a fishing community like ours, we need reductions in fuel prices and kerosene prices. A subsidy would also help us greatly,” she said.
However, the effects of the April Easter attacks on the electorate could be clearly seen in Chilaw.
Anthony Nalinda Migesh (32) was furious with the incumbent UNP-led Government as he claimed that they allowed the Easer attacks to take place.
“There was information received by the security forces. The whole country knows that the State had been warned but had failed to take action. Who is to blame except this Government?
“We see politicians who were allegedly involved being taken back into the Government. One such politician who is alleged to have direct links to the terrorist mastermind is even contesting the election as a presidential candidate,” Migesh said.
He said that he used to work as tour boat operator to take tourists out to sea but now had to revert to catching fish.
“The terror attacks crippled the tourism industry and we have no business now. We are asking for a reduction in fuel prices or a fuel subsidy at the least,” he said.
Migesh opined that he believed that national security must be ensured and that a person with a military background was best to lead the country.
“We need national security. I have to decide between the former Army Chief Mahesh Senanayake or former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on as to who deserves my vote,” he said.
Princy Rose Rodrigo (41) too shared his displeasure at the current Government claiming that those in power should step down.
“What have they done since coming into power in 2015? There was the Bond Scam and then they allowed the Easter bombings to happen,” she said.
She too was lamenting on the lack of action regarding the Easter attacks.
“They failed to act on the warnings that were given weeks before the attacks. This Government is directly responsible for that failure. I don’t see the point of this Government continuing to be in office.”
She too asserted that she was torn between the former Army Commander and the former Defence Secretary.
“My options are Mahesh Senanayake or Gotabaya Rajapaksa. I’m leaning towards the former Army Commander as he is not corrupt like the others,” she said
She called on the Government to provide better housing facilities for the fishing community.
“We don’t have proper houses. The stalls we have set up here on the beach are to be taken down by the Chilaw Urban Council and after that, we will have to find another place to sell our fish. We call on the Government to provide us with proper infrastructure or at least provide us with low-interest loan schemes so we could do it ourselves,” she said.
Photos Eshan Dasanayaka
As the country gears up for its eighth presidential election, the North Western Province populace, while most remain largely undecided on who to support, seems to be heavily influenced by the Easter bombings and national security, and are calling for a peaceful country where communities co-exist in harmony – their demand from the future president of the land.
With Kurunegala being one of the most populated districts in the country, the North Western Province has an estimated population of 2.5 million people.
Traditionally, the North Western Province is home to the Coconut Triangle with the Puttalam and Kurunegala Districts contributing to a majority of the coconut production in the country.
The significance of coconut production comes with its marketable and exportable goods with a total export value of Rs. 74.7 billion ($ 420 million) for the period between January and August 2019 – up from Rs. 62.3 billion ($ 396.8 million) for the same period in 2018.
There are a total 917,307 smallholder coconut cultivators in addition to the 178,675 estates in Sri Lanka, as per the Coconut Development Authority data.
Demands for fertiliser subsidy
Considering the importance coconut cultivation has on our export market as well as domestic consumption, it is key that politicians address issues faced by the industry, particularly smallholders.
A.R.M.R. Bandara (52) is one such smallholder who has a coconut cultivation just on the outskirts of Kurunegala town.
He was standing by the side of the Kurunegala-Puttalam Road, selling coconuts.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Bandara said that the main demands of the coconut cultivators were a fertiliser subsidy and agricultural equipment.
“They promised us a fertiliser subsidy during the last election, but we never got it. Now, they are making the same promise this time around too.”
In addition to fertiliser, Bandara said that many in the area need financial assistance as well as proper housing.
“If they can provide us with low-interest loans, it would be very helpful. Many here just need that little financial boost to get things going, whether it’s a business or making a new home. Housing is also a serious problem here with many families struggling to earn enough to build more modern homes.”
He said that he had not yet decided on whom to vote for at this election despite having voted for the United National Party (UNP) at the last election.
“I’m still unsure whom to vote for. During the last Government’s time, they provided us with a fertiliser subsidy, but this Government did not even do that.”
An acquaintance of Bandara by the name of Namal Priyantha (55) however, had already picked his candidate.
“Last time also I voted for a Rajapaksa and this time too, I will be voting the same way,” he said.
Priyantha works as a driver and his demand was that the Government repairs the road that he lives down as it had never been properly tarred.
“We need a proper road where we live. The lane that we currently walk down is gravel. It was fine 10 years ago but people have got vehicles now. I have a three-wheeler and my son has a motorbike.
Tired of living in fear
Following the Easter Sunday terror attacks this year, there were retaliatory communal riots against the Muslim community in May – especially in the North Western Province.
Minuwangoda town on the road to Kurunegala was affected the most.
Kurunegala too saw some violence with several mosques in the area being attacked with petrol bombs.
A.C.M. Farook (76), a small time businessman now retired, said that he had been voting for the UNP for the past 50-odd years.
He said that the only demand he and his family had was to bring about harmony among the different communities.
“We are tired of living in fear. The bombings were a tragedy and we condemn it. But soon after the attack, there were riots and the Muslim community was targeted,” he said.
He said that the country must achieve true peace if it was to truly develop.
“I have one son and four daughters. Only one daughter is in Sri Lanka while the rest of my children left for foreign countries to look for work. Now, they don’t want to return because they fear living in our motherland. All we ask is to be able to live in peace with our brothers and sisters from all communities,” Farook said, adding that whoever finally becomes president has the responsibility of healing the nation.
Farook’s neighbour Mohammed Asif (53) said that he and his family were always afraid of anti-Muslim riots being incited again.
“When the riots began in May, soon after the Easter attacks, we were terrified. We heard reports of people being assaulted and houses and shops of Muslims being burnt down. That fear is still there within us.”
He said that at previous elections, he had voted for the UNP.
“But this year I’m still undecided. We just want a peaceful country where our children can live happily,” he said.
In addition, he pointed out that some villagers had been discouraged to vote at past elections due to the distance to polling stations.
“Last time, several didn’t vote as the polling stations were far away. We hope this time they would have more polling booths so as to make it easier for the voters.”
In Puttalam, livelihoods are split between coconut cultivating, fisheries, and agriculture.
Puttalam town is home to many coconut cultivators along with traders.
S. Wimalathunga (52), a driver by profession, expressing his views on the current political situation, said that he sees both candidates as two sides of the same coin.
“If one comes they say the country will be divided. If the other comes he and his family will ruin the country and cause further unrest among the communities. All of them are the same. They benefit while the country and the people suffer.”
He said that most people were engaged in coconut cultivation and agriculture.
“People here need a fertiliser subsidy. Apart from a peaceful country, that is the demand the people here have. They just want to be able to do their jobs properly so that they can earn for their families.”
Cut-outs and posters of the presidential candidates were also seen at some locations in the North Western Province.
En route to Puttalam from Kurunegala, several larger-than-life cut-outs of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa could be seen along the road side.
Several instances of posters stuck on to walls like graffiti were also witnessed along the way.
The Puttalam District, which includes Kalpitiya and Chilaw, is with one of the largest fish producing districts in the country.
There are 10,760 fishing households with a total 19,000 fishermen and fisherwomen.
In 2017 alone, the Puttalam District produced an estimated 72,280 metric tonnes of fish, second only to the Hambantota District which produced 77,380 metric tonnes that same year, according to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Moving further East towards Kalpitiya, the local trade is quickly dominated by fishing.
Hundreds of fishing boats can be seen beached along the Kalpitiya shoreline.
One such fisherman, Sebastian Dickson (23), untangling his nets along the beach, said that he was frustrated with Sri Lankan politics and governance.
“They come to us during the election making all kinds of promises but no sooner the election is over, we are forgotten. All of them are the same. Only their party colour changes.”
He said that he demanded the future government look into the plight of the fishing community.
“All we want to do is to be able to earn enough to live a good life. Currently, we barely make ends meet.”
He said that the fuel subsidy was essential for the fisheries sector.
“We spend so much on our fuel but the amount of fish we catch is reducing each year. Then we have to go into deeper waters requiring us to spend more on fuel. This is a hectic cycle and we are unable to sustain this lifestyle.”
Meanwhile, M.A.M. Sabur (37) is the owner of several fishing vessels.
He has been in the trade for over 15 years and currently owns five fishing boats.
Sabur charged that a future Government should reduce fuel prices altogether.
“The fuel prices continue to sky rocket. We don’t understand why. The global fuel prices have dropped. The Government introduced a fuel price formula but all that has done is periodically increase fuel prices. This is an injustice.”
He said that the terror attacks had also diminished the blossoming tourism industry.
“We were doing well because of the tourism uptick after the war ended. My boats could be used for whale and dolphin watching. But now, we have had to revert back to fishing which does not even come close to bringing us similar earnings.”
He noted that he too would be voting for Sajith Premadasa and the New Democratic Front (NDF) at the upcoming election.
“We voted for the UNP in the past and we will do so at this election as well. We just hope that our problems are addressed the way they have promised to do so in the past years.”
A candidate with a military background
Travelling further south, The Sunday Morning observed more cut-outs and posters – this time of NDF presidential candidate Premadasa.
Several bus stands on the road to Chilaw from Puttalam were covered in posters of Sajith Premadasa.
The town of Chilaw in the Puttalam District is predominantly a fishing town famous for its wide swaths of beaches used to dry fish.
Theresa Warnakulasooriya (53), just like the hundreds of other vendors, was selling dry fish on the Chilaw beach.
When asked of her views on the upcoming presidential election, she said that she did not have much hope that the problems of her community would be resolved.
“They come during election time and make various promises but never keep these promises once they have taken our vote and get into political office.”
She said that the communities there depended heavily on fishing to earn a living.
“For a fishing community like ours, we need reductions in fuel prices and kerosene prices. A subsidy would also help us greatly,” she said.
However, the effects of the April Easter attacks on the electorate could be clearly seen in Chilaw.
Anthony Nalinda Migesh (32) was furious with the incumbent UNP-led Government as he claimed that they allowed the Easer attacks to take place.
“There was information received by the security forces. The whole country knows that the State had been warned but had failed to take action. Who is to blame except this Government?
“We see politicians who were allegedly involved being taken back into the Government. One such politician who is alleged to have direct links to the terrorist mastermind is even contesting the election as a presidential candidate,” Migesh said.
He said that he used to work as tour boat operator to take tourists out to sea but now had to revert to catching fish.
“The terror attacks crippled the tourism industry and we have no business now. We are asking for a reduction in fuel prices or a fuel subsidy at the least,” he said.
Migesh opined that he believed that national security must be ensured and that a person with a military background was best to lead the country.
“We need national security. I have to decide between the former Army Chief Mahesh Senanayake or former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on as to who deserves my vote,” he said.
Princy Rose Rodrigo (41) too shared his displeasure at the current Government claiming that those in power should step down.
“What have they done since coming into power in 2015? There was the Bond Scam and then they allowed the Easter bombings to happen,” she said.
She too was lamenting on the lack of action regarding the Easter attacks.
“They failed to act on the warnings that were given weeks before the attacks. This Government is directly responsible for that failure. I don’t see the point of this Government continuing to be in office.”
She too asserted that she was torn between the former Army Commander and the former Defence Secretary.
“My options are Mahesh Senanayake or Gotabaya Rajapaksa. I’m leaning towards the former Army Commander as he is not corrupt like the others,” she said
She called on the Government to provide better housing facilities for the fishing community.
“We don’t have proper houses. The stalls we have set up here on the beach are to be taken down by the Chilaw Urban Council and after that, we will have to find another place to sell our fish. We call on the Government to provide us with proper infrastructure or at least provide us with low-interest loan schemes so we could do it ourselves,” she said.
Photos Eshan Dasanayaka