Totally refuting the claims by the media, Joint Opposition (JO) Parliamentary Group Leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena said that the JO has not even discussed or arrived at any decision in relation to its choice 
of the next presidential candidate. In an interview with the Sunday Observer, the seasoned Parliamentarian said as the JO consists of many political parties and lobbying groups so diverse views are held by them. But finally, the situation will change overnight when there is an election at hand and selecting and announcing of candidates will duly take place in the larger interest of the country. Meanwhile, the only way to restore the trust and confidence in the Parliament is to have a General Election soon irrespective of its results. That is what the JO really stands for. It will certainly rejuvenate the country and reaffirm international confidence in us.
Q. Has the Joint Opposition (JO) come to a decision on its candidate for the 2020 Presidential Election?
A. The 2020 election for the Presidency is a long way. The JO has not even discussed or taken a decision in relation to this matter at any of its meetings. That is the official position. I take responsibility for saying so.
Q. Some JO members have proposed your name as well. What is the situation with regard to this?
A. Various groups and personalities are making proposals. That is of course a matter for such organisations and personalities. But as far as the JO is concerned there has been no decision taken and nor has this matter even been discussed.
Q. There seems to be a controversy with regard to the JO’s presidential candidate as former President Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot contest and Gotabaya Rajapaksa would be unable to contest if he retains his US citizenship. Therefore, some like MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara proposes the name of Chamal Rajapaksa for the candidacy. What is your comment on this?
A. I really don’t want to comment on it because they are all party members. But I must say that there has been no such discussion. So, anyone can make any statement.
I must say that I have seen all the presidential elections. So, as a senior parliamentarian all I say is that everyone must act with responsibility and caution.
Q. Nepotism was said to be a big factor for the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2015 Presidential Election and some political analysts have therefore, suggested that a non-Rajapaksa should contest for the Presidency. What is your thinking on this?
A. The media of course is making this a ‘hotspot’. That is for the media’s own purposes. Today, all this is being put up to take the main issue away- the total breakdown of the economy. That should be the main issue.
Q. There are reports that the JO is fractured into several groups who favour different candidates for the presidential election. There is also a suggestion that the JO should also back a common SLFP candidate. How will the JO’s chances be affected if there is disunity in the group?
A. There is no disunity as such because all news is spicy. So, for the media it becomes spicy. But the JO comprises many political parties and lobbying groups. So ,obviously, all might not have the same idea initially. But finally, if and when there is an election the selecting and announcing of candidates will take place. I don’t think it should be a hasty move and the JO has not done so as they have not yet taken up the issue at all for discussion.
Q. At the recent election for Deputy Speaker, the SLFP candidate Dr.Sudarshini Fernandopulle was defeated and one of the factors was the absence of several JO members in the Chamber. Does this mean that the JO does not like to accept the Group of 16 into its fold?
A. No. Some JO members didn’t vote and were not present at the voting time. But that doesn’t mean that there are major differences. The JO has supported the candidature of Dr.Sudarshini Fernandopulle for the Deputy Speakership. That was the decision and we voted for it. We would have had the chance of electing the first lady to be the Deputy Speaker of our Parliament, which would have been a historic decision where all Parliaments would have once again looked at Sri Lanka. We lost that chance. I must say irrespective of political loyalties that was a golden opportunity. There have been no major problems which have cropped up as yet between the members of the SLFP Cabinet who resigned and crossed over to the Opposition and are seated with us. We work jointly on all Parliamentary matters. So, there is no such big crisis.
Q. The SLFP 16 member group openly claims that it wants to make Mahinda Rajapaksa the Prime Minister and install a full-fledged SLFP Government. Your comments?
A. I know the 16 member group had met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa a couple of times and they have announced openly as well at those discussions that they accept Mahinda Rajapaksa as their leader. So, what more? We are proceeding on that basis to unite all possible forces to make Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister and to form a new Government.
Q. Are you for or against the SLFP 16 member group joining the JO when there is a difference of opinion among some JO MPs on this issue?
A. Of course, the people are free within certain limits of each political party to make statements. But the JO has not rejected any of the members who have crossed over to the Opposition and even those who will be crossing over. We will certainly work with them.
Q. If both SLFP and the JO have their own candidates, the votes will be split between them while the UNP candidate will have a chance to win the election. How do you look at this situation?
A. During the LG elections on February, 2018 the people of this country gave a mandate to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa defeating the entire Government. It was a resounding victory. So, that is a good lesson for those who make wrong calculations on how the people think.
Q. Do you support a strong Executive President or a mere figurehead as proposed by the 20 th Amendment?
A. The 20 th Amendment, I don’t think will see the light of day because it is not practical. The security of the State, administration of the Provincial Councils via the Governor’s powers will be in perilous straits. So, we can’t just pull out the sections of the Constitution and say accept this.
There are so many sections like the Executive Presidency, Parliamentary election laws, 13 th Amendment, Sovereignty and defence of the country which are key foundations of the Constitution. So, you can’t pull out one foundation and say we want things to balance. Already, we are in imbalance by some of the amendments that were moved after 1978. Those are the causes of political and economic instability today after introducing the 19 th Amendment not having foreseen its consequences but only rushing into it. So ,the JO has already taken a decision not to support the 20 th Amendment and it will also not have any support across the country.
Q. You have proposed to go for a General Election to get over the present political crisis facing the Yahapalana Government. Is this legally possible and what are your chances at such a General Election given that certain cracks seem to have appeared in the JO since the victory at the February 10 LG election?
A. There is a general decision of the JO that we demand a General Election because this Government faced a huge electoral defeat at the February 10 Local Government elections which means this Parliament and its political mandate of the Government are over. However much they try to pump oxygen to the Government, it has lost its mandate. Both the economy and the political stability are collapsing. Then what? The only way to regenerate trust and confidence of the Parliament is to have a General Election whatever the results. That is what we stand for. That can rejuvenate the country and international confidence in us.
Q. The National Audit Bill is a progressive measure and there should not be any opposition to it. What is the actual reason for the Government to postpone it indefinitely?
A. I remember one year ago, I asked this question from the President at the Committee Stage Debate of the Presidential vote. He gave an assurance that it will be coming. But we have been pressing at every Party Leader’s meeting presided over by the Speaker. He has been giving promises that it is coming! But it is not coming! It is before the House but it is not coming to be adopted. There are shortcomings. But we should adopt the National Audit Bill as early as possible. In fact, it should have been adopted by now. But at least even in the next week, the JO is ready to see that it goes through Parliament.
Q. At present, Sri Lanka faces challenges on human rights violations and interference by international lobbies. Do you think that a new President elected by you could reconcile these forces and ensure a smooth rule in the country?
A. Yes. We have been able to meet these challenges. Many countries realised sometimes that they have taken wrong decisions. It is very clear that Lord Naseby’s statement in the House of Lords says that the figures given to Geneva were all wrong and this has affected the British thinking . The secret documents of the British intelligence have shown that they were wrong. So, Sri Lanka’s position should have been continuously to oppose.
We can’t accept any wrong figures. Now the UNHRC is in a big crisis. The USA has left the UNHRC. The strongest power in the Western world has left the UNHRC. What more to talk of it? Sri Lanka should adopt its independent stand and pursue the matter so that other countries will understand that we have been wrongly judged.