By Charminda Rodrigo
Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources and Disaster Management Duminda Dissanayake told The Sunday Morning that the recent Joint Opposition (JO) lead protest held in Colombo on Wednesday (05) was not at all an important matter to analyse and extend comments on.
He stated that it was merely a petty political gimmick to protect their own skin from unfavourable and inevitable law suits that are coming their way.
Following are excerpts of his interview with The Sunday Morning:
Q: How do you see the current political developments in the country?
A: Our country today has entered a steady paradigm in terms of politics. We have established democracy in the country. The largest two parties in the country have formed a Unity Government. There were some criticisms raised regarding the early stages after forming the present Government. Of course there were some delays in development activities.
We have launched many mega projects such as constructions of highways. Also, we have launched the ‘Gamperaliya’programme to assist and nurture the grassroots level in our community. Every organiser had been granted Rs. 100 million to invest on identified programmes in their locality. This would surely uplift the standards of the masses in the years to come.
Q: What caused the delay in delivery?
A: The delay was caused due to the fact that the Government had to move forward whilst repaying the loans obtained by the previous regime. But now that the Government has sorted these hiccups we can definitely look to a promising future in the years to come.
Q: There are some critical issues raised by a number of parties regarding the country’s economy at present. This matter had even been the centre of focus during an open forum held recently, which was chaired by some of the prominent business personalities of this country.
A: There is a lag in the expansion of the economy. We cannot deny that fact. There should be more money circulating in the hands of the common public. Any person with a sane mind would understand that no economy can be uplifted when there is a heap of loans to honour. There were some delays in megaprojects.
These prominent business personalities have benefited from these projects. Therefore, they may be upholding fair concerns. When megaprojects are launched, shouldered with foreign loans, repayment of such loans would come as an inherent feature. We have to strike a balance between the two.
Q: Another major criticism raised against the Government was the continuous funding of the inefficient public sector with the money that had been generated by the comparatively efficient private sector. How do you see this?
A: The public sector needs to be reengineered. This is not a task which can be fulfilled overnight. Some of those business personalities have been a part of the public sector in the past. Even they couldn’t change the paradigm of the public sector.
There is a pattern that the public sector is accustomed to. It’s rather difficult to subject the sector to a paradigm shift. I believe the young blood that we have absorbed into the public sector may become change agents. The public sector still relies on the conventional methodologies in their modus operandi. For example, the public sector organisations still count on letters when there are novel methodologies available, especially in the private sector, to get the same job done with a click of a button; they are efficient and cost-effective. There are public servants who are not conversant with emails or basic electronic communication methodologies.
Q: Contrary to your notion, we see three-wheeler drivers getting used to GPS guided systems on their mobile phones. Mind you, they are far less educated than the public sector employees. So you still mean to say it is due to lack of knowledge or simply their negligence to embrace new technology?
A: I would say both. When new technology has been introduced, especially in the private sector, it is done in a fashion which is more ‘user friendly’ to benefit anybody who uses it. Where as in the public sector, it is not always the resistance to change but the fact that the vendors have not yet been able to provide what is needed and wanted by the public sector.
This is due to many constraints associated in the process. However, we see some public sector organisations benefitting through embracing state-of-the-art technology. This is one key issue that the Government should pay keen attention on.
Q: You were the former General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Here we see some of your party members, belonging to the Joint Opposition (JO), staging a protest against the Government. How do you see that?
A: We see that the recent JO protest does not focus upon the needs of the common people, but it is a devious plan to save themselves from the unfavourable and inevitable lawsuits that are coming their way.
Most of the investigations regarding the misappropriations of the previous regime have come to a close by now. Now they are up to litigation. It is natural for the guilty parties to find whatever possible way to save themselves from getting stuck behind bars. They are striving to show authorities that they possess a large human shield to protect them from law.
Q: Some of the JO members say that they would not quit until they bring down this Government with the protest?
A: They are the laughing stock. The Constitution very clearly states how the president and the government is formed and dissolved. Also, it contains provisions regarding a sudden dissolution of the government and the time that is allowed. Everyone knows about the election calendar of this country.
Remember the JO march from Kandy? Had the Government been dissolved? It was just a wicked act to deceive innocent people who believed in them. Mahinda Rajapaksa himself had said many times that the Government would not last for the next few Poya days. Has it come to pass?
Recent protests in Colombo were also one such gimmick. All they want is to create chaos in ordinary lives in the capital, damage public property, and make it to look like a major success. We established freedom and democracy in the country, if the JO misused that freedom to inconvenience the lives of the public, that’s actually an escapade. I don’t see their action as anything less than that.
The Government may never tolerate such rule of the jungle or knavery. These poor souls may have expected to repeat what happened in Egypt. We have a Constitution unlike in those countries. There is no reason to expect the same to happen here. We have established the law in the country. Everyone is bound to live by that. If the acts of one faction create problems for the masses, then it is the responsibility of the Government to use its power to neutralise such destructive acts. The Government cannot walk away from that responsibility.
Q: You mean to say that this is just a loafing?
A: Of course yes. What is it otherwise?
Q: You call this protest a human shield to protect the corrupt politicians, but we have seen how people gathered in front of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) when the former Secretary of Defence was called in to record statements. On following occasions, it was just his driver and the bodyguards who accompanied him. The interest of the people wanes over time. How do you see it?
A: Very true – that’s the reality. We have seen people gathered at former President’s residence when the CID visited to record a statement on the abduction of a prominent journalist. It’s just to record a statement. Why does the JO spend money and transport people?
If one pays attention to the former President’s statement to media, it clearly states his alleged involvement at the scene. However, he had been able to wash if off the public ears by slamming it on his Private Secretary Uditha Lokubandara. What the JO should understand is that the popularity amongst the masses will not remain forever.
Q: You mean to say that Mahinda Rajapaksa is a good actor?
A: Of course. He himself has starred in movies and dramas already. Still, the people cannot understand his acting from time to time.
Q: Is the Government and SLFP scared of Mahinda Rajapaksa?
A: Well, I’m not at all scared of anybody, neither the Government nor the SLFP. We have established democracy in the country. There are no abductions or battery. People can hold their own opinion on what they believe in.
The era of suppression has come to an end. We invite those who are holding their criticism, just because they’re scared to make their voices heard, to criticise the policy and not the personas. Stand by your principals and criticise what you think should be changed. You don’t have to be scared of anybody.
Q: Do you see any grudge between the forces within the JO when deciding the next presidential candidate?
A: It was evident. The JO was divided when they had to choose between Gotabaya and Basil for the next presidency. Cracks have been visibly surfacing when some members within the JO started criticising openly.
To end this conflict, Mahinda Rajapaksa intervened and said that he could run for the upcoming election due to a loophole in the Constitution. There is no such defect in the drafting. We urge the former President to hand over his nomination to the Elections Commissioner to further try his luck.
Pictures by Indika Handuwala