Minister of Roads and Highways, Ports and Shipping Johnston Fernando said he is optimistic that at the upcoming General Election the people will give a resounding mandate to the broad political alliance,’ Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandhanaya’ led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa exceeding the total number of 6.9 million votes given to the President at the last Presidential Election. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said those who love the country will definitely vote for the Government at the election and others will not follow suit. Those who betrayed the country are in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa including some other Opposition parties such as the TNA. Minister Fernando said “we are a successful and disciplined Government headed by a visionary leader which has the potential to develop the country and the economy. Therefore, it won’t be difficult for the Government to secure a comfortable majority in Parliament.”
Q: The Government lawmakers have raised concerns over the statement by Election Commission member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole in Jaffna regarding the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). The SLPP says they want a written response from the Election Commission in this regard. Would you like to comment on this?
A. This shows the nakedness of the former Yahapalana Government. They showed the world that they were independent. They appointed some of those who promoted separatism to members of Commissions just to pretend that they are fully independent. However, many such persons appointed were ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’. The Election Commission member Hoole is also such a person. This clearly shows the lack of credibility of those Commissions which they claimed were fully independent. The Election Commission has lost its credibility due to the controversial remarks by Hoole. During the tenure of the Yahapalana Government, the Director General of the Bribery Commission, the Attorney General’s Department and the FCID also acted in a biased manner. These kinds of things did not happen even when there were no independent commissions in the country. Hoole’s behaviour is clear testimony to the conduct of the former Yahapalana Government. It gave an assurance that those who were appointed to the independent commissions were not impartial and were only their henchmen.
We should amend this distorted 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The forthcoming General Election is the ideal forum for it. The people should give a resounding mandate to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to realise this goal. We should form a stable Government and appoint capable people to all positions putting an end to the activities of those who betray the country.
During the tenure of the former Government, some of those in Colombo 7 who represent ‘tie- coat’ democracy and propagate terrorism were appointed to Commissions. Therefore, the English speaking upper segment of society should think twice about that betrayal by the former Government. Even the JVP Leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, endorsed Hoole’s appointment to the Election Commission. It was obvious the UNP-JVP Government ruled the country over the past four and a half years. The JVP didn’t obtain portfolios but they got money and other perks.
Q: A tense situation erupted at a recent meeting at UNP Headquarters, Sirikotha where the UNP affiliated trade unions agitated and cast angry remarks at UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the top rung of the party. How do you view this infighting between two UNP factions?
A. This looks like a curse against those who committed to form the UNP led alliance and the Yahapalana Government. Today, they have faced enormous destruction and that is why the UNP has split into several factions. The JVP has also faced a huge setback. Those in the Yahapalana Government, had to go home in four and a half years.
They faced a huge electoral defeat at the Local Government elections due to the destruction they caused in the country. They betrayed their motherland and imprisoned war heroes who made a supreme sacrifice to rescue the country from the clutches of terrorism. The Yahapalana Government even took revenge from Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family. They framed charges and imprisoned their political opponents. It has become a curse to them and they are divided into several factions. The destruction they caused to the country has boomeranged on them. At the upcoming General Election, the people will be able to see what would happen to their 5.5 million votes obtained at the last Presidential Election.
Q: The expulsion of 99 Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party representatives from the UNP shows the clear division in the UNP. How would this affect their vote base at the upcoming General Election?
A. Sajith Premadasa should be held fully responsible for creating this situation. He is the main architect of the project launched to destroy the UNP. He took the Presidential candidacy by force. He welcomed the ‘white liars’ who were at the forefront to sling mud at the Rajapaksas during the 2015 Presidential Election. After obtaining the candidacy, Premadasa faced a humiliating defeat due to his arrogance. If Premadasa is a tactful politician, he would have asked UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to contest the Premiership as whatever UNP faction contests, they would definitely lose the upcoming General Election.
The UNP or SJB can’t compete with the broad political alliance led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The UNP wanted to be in power for 10-15 years but they had to quit within four and a half years. The UNP was destroyed mainly due to the acts of Sajith Premadasa, who dances according to the whims and fancies of politicians such as Champika Ranawaka and Rajitha Senaratne who are dreaming to get the UNP leadership.
At present, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa are accusing each other. Those who betrayed and ruined the country should face such consequences. What we could see is further destruction of the UNP owing to the decisions taken by its Working Committee.
Q: The President has instructed all heads of government institutions to refrain from engaging in political activities during the forthcoming election period and not to use public property, funds or state vehicles for election work. How do you look at this new political culture that is emerging under the leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa?
A. It is a praiseworthy decision. The President always takes appropriate decisions at the appropriate time on behalf of the country. The country could also safeguard itself from the threat of the Covid-19 outbreak due to the proper and timely decisions taken by the President. At the last Presidential Election, the people expected a change and the President is effecting that change as pledged. Those who obtained portfolios should not engage in politics and they should commit themselves towards the President’s initiative to rebuild the country.
Q: It is the common phenomenon of a vibrant Opposition to demand elections on time. However, the present Opposition is engaged in a deliberate attempt to postpone elections due to their internal conflicts. What are your comments about this issue?
A. Actually this looks like a phobia. When they were in power also they deliberately postponed elections. They are doing the same thing when they are in the Opposition as well. The Yahapalana Government came to power with the pledge of restoring democracy in the country. However, they deliberately postponed the Local Government elections. We took to the streets demanding to hold Local Government elections. The Provincial Council elections were indefinitely postponed. They went to courts and attempted to postpone the Presidential Election but their attempt was in vain. Under the19th Amendment, they had formed a Government which could continue for four and a half years with or without the majority in Parliament.
When we were in the Opposition, we demanded elections. When we were in power we held elections without any delay. This clearly shows the present Opposition is scared of elections. At present, we have to fulfill the responsibility of both the Opposition and the Government. When a date is fixed to hold an election, the Opposition attempts to postpone it due to their inability to face it.
Q: Do you think there is a need to go for a constitutional amendment soon after the General Election? Is this the reason the Government is expecting to secure a two-thirds majority at the election?
A. This distorted 19th Amendment to the Constitution should be changed. If the political henchmen of the former Government are in the Independent Commissions and a Government can continue in office for four and a half years with or without the majority, that situation has to be changed. At the last Presidential Election, we pledged to change this. Otherwise, this would become a complete distortion which would eventually pave the way to create an unstable situation in the country. We would never resort to any such move to create destruction in the country. We would not hesitate to effect any changes to the Constitution, economy, administration or any other vital areas.
Q: At the last Presidential Election, the majority of Sinhala Buddhists voted for the President while the majority of Tamils and Muslims voted for Sajith Premadasa. Do you think this voting pattern would change and more Tamils and Muslims would vote for the Government at the upcoming General Election?
A. Earlier the opinion created in the minds of the public was that an election cannot be won without the support of the minority vote. However, Sajith Premadasa was defeated by 1.4 million votes. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa could secure 6.9 million votes, the highest number of votes secured by a Presidential Candidate during our political history. The President also received a certain amount of minority votes. Therefore, those who love the country would vote for the Government at the upcoming General Election and others will not follow suit. Those who betrayed the country are in the SJB led by Sajith Premadasa including some other Opposition parties like the TNA.
It won’t be difficult for the Government to secure a comfortable majority in Parliament. We are a successful and disciplined Government headed by a visionary leader which has the necessary potential to develop the country and the economy. According to my political experience, at the upcoming General Election the people will give a resounding mandate to the broad political alliance led by the President and the Prime Minister exceeding the total number of 6.9 million votes given to the President at the last Presidential Election. Our victory is very evident due to the rifts and incompetency of the current Opposition.
Q: How do you respond to the Opposition claim that the country is heading towards militarisation due to the appointment of some retired high ranking military personnel to top Government positions?
A. Earlier the Opposition described this as ranaviru gaya and said that an ex-military officer and US citizen has been fielded as the SLPP Presidential Candidate. They carried out every possible mudslinging campaign against the President. However, 6.9 million people voted for the President and he could win the election by a majority of 1.4 million votes. The President has appointed several competent ex-military personnel to some top Government positions. The Opposition attempts to describe this as militarisation and creates a misconception among the people. We would like to ask them whether ex-military people were not appointed to top Government positions in the past. Similar appointments have been made throughout history. Even former Army Commander, Sarath Fonseka, contested as the UNP Presidential Candidate in 2010. These utterances are made by the UNP led Opposition due to their political bankruptcy.
Q: Do you think the ongoing investigations by the Presidential Commission would be able to bring the culprits of the Easter Sunday attacks to book?
A. We have democratically appointed a Commission to look into this incident. New video footage of this incident has also been released now. We conduct these investigations within the democratic framework. This is what the country’s people expect. We have no intention of imprisoning the people based on mere speculations as was done by the Yahapalana Government. No proper investigations were conducted those days. Under the previous regime, there were some political leaders and Ministers who laughed when innocent people were brutally killed.
The then Defence Secretary said they were not aware that such a large number of people would be killed due to the Easter Sunday attacks. That was a Government which put the lives of the people at a great risk. Some of the politicians who had direct links with terrorists who committed the Easter Sunday carnage were in the main chairs of the Parliamentary Select Committees appointed by the former Government. I believe once the investigations are completed, we would be able to bring all those who are held responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks to book.
Q: How do you look at the 50-year political career of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his vibrant leadership given to the country?
A. He is a charismatic leader who always wins the love and confidence of the people. We haven’t seen anywhere in the world, a leader such as Mahinda Rajapaksa who came back to active politics just two months after his 2015 electoral defeat. Premier Rajapaksa formed a new political party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and introduced Gotabaya Rajapaksa as its Presidential Candidate.
He is a leader who has vast political experience. He is a blessing to the country. His name would go down in the annals of the country’s political history as the leader who won the war against LTTE terrorists and continuously retained power for a long period. He is a leader who built the country and the economy.
Amid international pressure, he strategically waged war against the terrorists and defeated them. No political leader has brought this amount of significant victories as gained by the Prime Minister during his five-decade long political career. We are also fortunate that we have been able to work under him as the former President and the incumbent Prime Minister.
After four and a half years, we were able to consolidate power due to his great leadership. That is why the Yahapalana Government even changed the Constitution to prevent the Rajapaksas from coming to power.
We are happy that we have a leader in Sri Lanka of the calibre of the late Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.