UPFA Galle District MP and Former Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Chandima Weerakkody, said the SLFP 16 member group has decided to work together with the Joint Opposition (JO) and participate in the JO Parliamentary Group meeting to be chaired by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa tomorrow (July 02). In an interview with the Sunday Observer, the former Minister said none of the 54 members representing the JO in Parliament are members of Pohottuwa but that still they all are members of the SLFP led UPFA. He said the 16 member group didn’t see any difficulty at all in working together with the JO as an Opposition Group against the Government.
Q: Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, UPFA MP Prasanna Ranatunga and many others are dead against the 16 member group joining the Pohottuwa. What have you got to say?
A: There is nothing like that. We are all now in the Opposition. Of the 96 UPFA members who got elected to Parliament, 54 are already in the Opposition. We have also joined them as a group. Of course, there are a few who had made certain statements due to personal political reasons in their respective districts.That is nothing unusual. As politicians, you must look at things politically. Except that, I don’t see any reason for anyone to oppose us. Our 16 member group also had a meeting with former Minister Basil Rajapaksa on Thursday (June 28). There the opinion was that the media had misinterpreted some statements. We discussed all issues very openly.
Q: Have you resolved all your outstanding problems following the 16 member group meeting with former Minister Basil Rajapaksa on Thursday?
A: Yes, of course. We had a lengthy discussion with former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the members of his party. We didn’t come across any issue from any quarter preventing our working together as an Opposition Group against the Government. On Monday (July 02), we will participate in the JO Parliamentary Group meeting to be chaired by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. What we discussed was how to work as a group against the Government and organise ourselves as a broad alliance to form our own Government and win future elections as well.
Q: The 16 member group has decided to join the JO. Will there be open opposition? What will be former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s attitude to the issue?
A: All 16 of us worked for him during the 2015 Presidential Election campaign. Neither of us joined the UNP or any other party but we continued with the party. However, subsequently a decision was taken by the SLFP Central Committee to work with the Government for two years. When that two year period expired, we informed the President that we should come out of that agreement.
Unfortunately, during that time, elections were declared so that we had to work with the party. When the No Confidence Motion (NCM) against the Prime Minister came up, we submitted a proposal to the SLFP Central Committee to take a decision to quit the Government but without success. Even knowing very well that the NCM was going to be defeated, we decided to vote against the Prime Minister. We were not in a position to justify our being in the Government having voted against the NCM. So, we stepped down and now we are working with the Opposition.
The decision to submit the NCM was taken by the incumbent President perhaps with the blessings of the former President too. We repeatedly informed the President and the SLFP Central Committee that the people are fed up with this Government especially those who voted for us. There is a disaster in every sector. I believe you can’t find anyone who says that he is with the Government. There has never been a Government in our history that has become so unpopular among people. We are now mired in a deadlock due to the Constitution. Otherwise, a decision could have been taken to dissolve the Government and go for a fresh election.
Q: Do you think you could form a SLFP Government before 2020?
A: Well, I must say both-yes and no. If all our 96 SLFP MPs can stand together, it is very easy to form a government. At the same time you must also think whether the people of this country want a government of this nature.
Q: Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already said that he may welcome the 16 member group or anybody else leaving the Government but they cannot have one leg in the SLFP and other in Pohottuwa. Your comments?
A: He has never said so. None of our 54 members representing the JO in Parliament is a member of Pohottuwa. They are still members of the SLFP led UPFA.
Q: The complaint against the 16 member group is that it left the Unity Government only when they found their political future is going to be bleak and not for any other reason. What have you got to say about this?
A: It is very clear while being in the Government, we opposed when they tried to do things that are not acceptable to the people such as the tank farm , LNG terminal , tax issue, Treasury Bond scam and Singapore- Sri Lanka Trade Agreement.
Likewise, we opposed whenever the Government tried to do something which was not acceptable to the people. Of course, we joined the Government subsequent to a decision taken by the Central Committee to be with the Government for two years. We have not done anything for our political future.
In my political career, I have always stood with the people being answerable to them.
Q: The Central Bank Bond Scam and other allegations of fraud and financial scandals took place when you were in the Government and you should have left then and there. Why did you wait till the last moment?
A: The Bond Scam took place before we joined the Government. We were not in the 100 Day Government. But had we not been in the Government, Arjuna Mahendran would have been the Central Bank Governor even today and they would have also not appointed a Presidential Commission to investigate that fraud and then that would have allowed the rogues to go scot free. Of course, leaving the Government would have been only an option.
Q: The public sentiment is that you take decisions not in the interest of the country but to suit your political future. Any comments?
A: This is the interpretation the UNP is trying to give to the general public to protect its image, but the fact remains that the people are very intelligent. They want a change.
They want us as elected members to take the lead. We have not let down the people. We are strongly with people and we represent their electorates and districts. Our aim is to see that the expectations of the people are fulfilled. I don’t think the UNP by misinterpreting our decisions in such manner can persuade the people to believe in what they say.
Q: SLFP National Organiser Minister Duminda Dissanayake says President Maithripala Sirisena is their candidate for 2020. The Pohottuwa will also have their candidate. Will not the splitting of votes seriously affect SLFP and the country at large?
A: Duminda Dissanayake has to first decide whether he is the SLFP National Organiser or of the UNP. I don’t think he is acceptable to the SLFP voter base. He is only trying to ruin the party. It is very obvious he is planning to join the UNP.If he is a true gentleman, he should join the UNP and leave this party for the people who love it.
It is very clear that those who voted for the SLFP during the past elections and the majority of those who hold the SLFP membership want the SLFP to come out of the Government.
The last LG election results made this very clear. What the country really needs is a President and a Government who can work against the policies of the UNP.