The Government of Sri Lanka has no international problems according to State Minister of Transport Services Management Dilum Amunugama. Within the country, however, the United National Party (UNP) and its bigwigs’ attempt to steer the Government into international problems such as the Swiss Embassy incident. It is now clear that this was a fabrication, he said, in an interview with the Sunday Observer, adding that, by fabricating diabolical lies such as this, the UNP and its allies imagined they could embarrass the President, but it smears the reputation of the whole country. There have to be consequences for those who attempt to tarnish the image of the country, he said.
Amunugama credited the UNPs defeat at the election to their inability to think beyond themselves. “They don’t think of the country, its reputation or its future. They just think of their mere survival and how they can stay in power. As such, they will surely descend to any level to stay in power. It is very clear to the public that the UNP was only focusing on revenge, exercising power and making money. That was the main Yahapalana mission, whatever they said to the contrary.”
Q. What are your plans to improve transport services?
A. The Sri Lanka Transport Board, National Transport Commission, Department of Motor Traffic and Medical Institute and the Road Safety Unit fall under my purview. Presently, we have a few new plans but we have to hold them back until the boards are appointed. Hopefully, the chairman will be appointed within the next few days, after which the boards will be appointed and then we can go ahead.
Q. The present Government seems confident in winning the General Election, but a two-thirds majority will be crucial. How do you feel about the chances?
A. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa victory was made possible by the people who had high hopes for what he will do. If he is to fulfill them, we need to have the strength in Parliament. We will inform the people that we need a two-thirds majority to take firm decisions and go ahead with the administration. When it comes to a General Election, there is a need to form a coalition. Then the matter arises as to what coalition we are going to form, and whether we are going to form a new one or make use of the old one. This is what we are currently discussing. If we decide to go with the ‘Pohottuwa’, then it will require forming a new alliance. I think we should go with the ‘Pohottuwa’.
Q. Many UNPers have left the party. Some members are fighting for radical changes, while others remain on the fence. What has gone wrong?
A. The UNP, at the start of the campaign, was a mess. This was because of the clash between Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa. That is not our concern. We cannot waste our time sorting out the UNP’s problems. We have to go ahead with our work.
Q. Following the Easter Sunday attacks, closer understanding and religious harmony between communities took a new turn. Will there be proper justice meted out?
A. The difficulty to mete out justice is that none of the bombers are around anymore. The people who assisted the bombers and let it grow to those dangerous levels are around, howeverm and most of them are politicians. We have to investigate this matter and take action to ensure that it will not happen again.
Q. This Government will have a tough time with conspirators, nationally and internationally. Is the Government prepared to face such challenges?
A. Internationally, we don’t have any problem whatsoever. Within the country, however, the UNP and its team attempt to steer the Government into international problems such as the Swiss Embassy incident. It is now clear that this was a fabrication. By fabricating diabolical lies such as this, the UNP and its allies imagined they could embarrass the President, but it smears the reputation of the whole country. There have to be consequences for those who attempt to tarnish the image of the country,
Q. How do you respond to the UNP’s allegations of political witch-hunting in response to the Government’s decision to reopen past cases?
A. We have not reopened any cases. We received a request from the father of the man who was knocked down by that Minister’s vehicle. We had to launch an inquiry into the incident because he said that justice was not meted out to them. That is what happened. It is a very fair request by the aggrieved father.
Q. Although the Government has taken relief measures to help the people by reducing the prices of consumer items, people are yet to enjoy the benefits. Rice prices are an example. What action will be taken to rectify this?
A. As far as we know, there is a problem. We are moving towards the festive season. We have to decide on a number of essential consumer items. If you take the case of rice, we need not go into big time imports which will bring paddy prices down. We are trying to stop the import of rice and then obviously the price will go up for some time until the next cultivation starts. Some decisions are likely to cause a price hike, but it would benefit the farmer.
Q. The Government has taken timely action to rule out political patronage in providing jobs. Could you explain the approach?
A. I see it as most appropriate because the President and the Government itself decided on poverty alleviation. We are just giving someone Rs. 2000 or Rs. 3000 which is never going to alleviate their poverty. Therefore, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has taken a firm decision that we should stop the payment of a small amount but we should go on the poverty selection criteria to identify the deserving people and provide a Government job to one of their family members which will in turn boost the economic situation of that family. This is a very practical method and then we will be saving the money that we were spending on both poverty alleviation and donations.
Q. It appears there is an organized campaign both local and foreign to tarnish the image of the country as in the case of Swiss Embassy incident. What is your take on this?
A. That is why the UNP was defeated in that manner, because they think only of themselves. They don’t think of the country, its reputation or its future. They just think of their survival and how they can stay in power and they will descend to any level to stay in power. So this is a result of that. I believe we should take stern action against whoever has been involved in these acts.
Q. Would you like to comment on how the Yahapalana Government ensured justice to its political enemies through the FCID, CID and the Police?
A. It is very clear. If you get all these officials including the Director General of the Bribery Commission and all other high ranking Police officers who are coming out and spilling the beans as to what they were asked to do during the Yahapalana regime, that would be enough. It is very clear to the public that they were only focusing on revenge, exercising power and making money. That was the main Yahapalana mission, whatever they said to the contrary, their internal mission has been staying in power, making money and taking revenge.
Q. The Yahapalana government’s mud-slinging campaign against SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa reached its climax when the ‘white van’ drama was enacted by former Minister Rajitha Senaratne. How has the level of Sri Lankan politics descended to that level?
A. You cannot descend to anything below Rajitha Senaratne’s level! That is the meanest level. There is nothing more I can say about that. Action will be taken against those who enacted that ‘white van’ drama but we are not for any political revenge. We have to follow the correct procedure to deal with these issues. What we are doing today is not what the former Yahapalana Government did. They just arrested whoever they wanted and ordered the Police to write what they wanted and that is what these Police officers are now coming out and saying. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not work in that manner.
Q. Millions of youth voted for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. How will the Government respond to their aspirations?
A. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is mainly for assisting the youth to ensure the future of the country. You cannot talk about the future of the country without the youth as they are the future of the country. Up to now, all the decisions the President has been taking are also linked to all that the youth was expecting when they voted for him. I think, right now, the youth are happy with what is going on in the country.
Q.The Central Highway connecting Kandy to Colombo is still lagging behind due to mismanagement and faulty planning. What has happened? Will the project be reviewed?
A. Obviously. It is not dragging because of faulty management. It is entirely because of fraud. It is very clear because the contract was stopped when commissions were asked for. Until they were paid the commissions, they were not allowed to proceed. They had to bribe the minister and then start the project. This is what caused the delay. We will initiate an inquiry into these irregularities. Meanwhile, we will arrange with the contractor to double up the speed of the work.
Q. Heavy traffic, environmental pollution and lack of space for expansion are some of the critical problems with the city of Kandy. Have you decided on any course of action to eliminate or minimize these?
A. During our previous government, we had done the new city development plan. We have requested the World Bank for funds. The figure is close to two to three billion up to 12 billion. The World Bank is releasing the funds. We have closed down the Good Shed Bus Stand and we are developing it. We have moved out the buses to temporary places. We have computerised the running of the buses. The only way we can reduce the traffic in Kandy is that we should have three satellite cities in Tennekumbura, Katugastota and Pilimathalawa where buses coming from long distances will be parked and then only the shuttle or rotated bus service will be in operating in the city. The reason for the heavy vehicular traffic is because right now we are keeping 5000 buses a day in Kandy which is something close to New York City.
Q. How helpful has your resourceful uncle Dr. Sarath Amunugama’s advice and guidance been for you to prosper in your political career?
A. Plenty, in fact! He has been my political guru who tutored me in politics. At one stage, I couldn’t have agreed with him when he decided to go with the then President Maithripala Sirisena. I think everyone who went with Maithripala Sirisena knows what happened to them and the country at large. However, Dr. Amunugama was very much in favour of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s campaign and he supported him. It helps us a great deal as we can get plenty of advice from his vast experience as one time Finance Minister.