They make a big fuss over trivial matters - Keheliya Rambukwella | Sunday Observer
“Unfortunate to have an Opposition of this nature”

They make a big fuss over trivial matters - Keheliya Rambukwella

5 June, 2021

Co-cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella said that it is very unfortunate; the country has an Opposition of this nature where they want to make a big fuss even over a trivial matter. That is their characteristic feature and we only have to say the country’s people will feel sorry about this Opposition.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said if we look at all the actions of the main Opposition SJB, starting from the Covid vaccination program currently going on and the control of Covid-19 pandemic, they are trying to create a situation to scuttle this entire program. They are doing their best to create some issues in between and want to have more deaths and Covid-19 cases in the country. They are attempting to gain political mileage from everything without making any proper assessment. They also look at the Colombo Port City project from the same perspective. At the end of the day, they are trying their best to scuttle it as they feel this is one of the key economic drives that we would make use of. This is sort of politics is played with a bad taste.

Q: Marine scientists say the ill-fated X-Press Pearl ship could be the highest environmental destruction in recent history. Has the Environmental Authority and other relevant agencies prepared a rough estimate of the cost of the environmental pollution?

A: I won’t say no. There is a certain environmental damage but I am unable to assess it and tell you what it is. I am sure the authorities concerned will do so. I think there are some legal proceedings that are being worked out and I am sure whatever the funding necessary to make corrective measures must be immediately done.

Q: Is there any possibility of recovering the environmental damage caused by the ship from its owners and agents?

A: That is the maritime law which will apply to that. I am sure the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka must be working on it.

Q: Marine scientists have said that the plastic and chemical pollutants released into the ocean from the X-Press Pearl ship will last more than three generations. Has the Government laid emphasis on this environmental destruction?

A: I don’t comment on it. If that is the case, 201 ships were sunk in 2019 and 168 ships in 2020. Then the entire ocean in the world must be polluted. I am sure there is a certain amount of environmental pollution by this ill-fated ship. I don’t know the extent. At the moment, I am unable to comment on it as I am not an expert or I have not read much about that part of it.

Q: Certain sections have raised concern when there was a leak of chemicals in that ship as to why it was allowed to sail into our territorial waters.

A: I think it is a long story. I think all the people who are concerned came on TV and all the media explained that. However, the story spread initially was not right. When it was announced, some of our media people picked it up without verifying it. In no time, they corrected the situation and they said about going into other ports such in Qatar and India where they haven’t had the technology and they have not allowed this ship but that has not been conveyed to Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

So, that part was missing in the entire statement and they were saying all these things based on that. I am sure all that is the technical part and we have acted in accordance with the maritime systems and laws. That is where we have a very strong case to get compensation. But that doesn’t mean the issue is going to be shut by getting compensation as it is a very serious issue. So, these are things that are unexpected and sometimes happen all over the world. That doesn’t mean that I am giving an excuse. But when it happens thereafter, we will have to take the best precautionary measures and ensure that the damage is controlled to the maximum.

Q: What are the measures taken by the Government to provide relief to the fishermen who were affected due to this incident?

A: I think starting with Rs.5000 relief allowance and thereafter I think they will make an assessment on the loss incurred by the fishermen. I am sure they will be compensated to the maximum possible.

Q: It was the UNP which introduced the Greater Colombo Economic Commission Bill. Then as to why the main Opposition SJB has expressed its opposition to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill that was passed in Parliament recently?

A: I suppose this is because of their double standards and it is just a political game. Obviously, there are certain clauses of the Greater Colombo Economic Commission Bill No: 04 of 1978 which are more aggressive than what is in the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill. In that there are so many institutions that had been bypassed by the Greater Colombo Economic Commission. I think these SJB MPs are not aware of it. If you look at all their actions starting from the Covid vaccination program currently going on and the control of Covid-19 pandemic, they are trying to create a situation to scuttle this entire program.

They are trying to gain political mileage from everything without making an assessment whether this is going to be good or bad for the country. They are trying their best to create some issue in between and want to have more deaths and Covid-19 cases in the country. They look at the Port City project from the same perspective. I have seen some of the SJB Parliamentarians like Dr. Harsha de Silva who said the Port City project is very good but they attempt to create an issue in between and say this could have been better or something of that effect.

At the end of the day, what they are trying to do is to scuttle the whole thing because they feel this is one of the key economic drives that we would make use of. I think this sort of politics is played with a bad taste.

Q: You have said that the Government had been compelled to maintain travel restrictions without a break as some politically interested groups had behaved irresponsibly when the lockdown was temporarily lifted recently. Could you explain?

A: Those people who were carrying goods in wheelbarrows are all orchestrations. Now it is very evident that it was planned by some of the members of the Sajith’s group. They are just trying to make a comedy of it. In between they have also created a situation for the Government to move further under the restrictions. They prefer that way partly because they want the economy to crumble. They are well aware that if they explain their policies to the people, they can never come to power within the next ten years. So, they are trying to drag the country down in all aspects economically, socially and health sector wise so that there will be a protest vote at the end. It is very obvious that is what they are trying to do.

Q: The Opposition says that there is political interference in the Government’s Covid vaccination program citing examples regarding the recent incidents that happened in Moratuwa and Kurunegala. Your comments?

A: When you are administering the vaccination of nearly 1.5 million people, obviously you will have one or two isolated incidents somewhere. Actually, it is normal as you are dealing with human beings and they are known to make some errors.

Therefore, some isolated incidents may occur somewhere but they will highlight it and project it as the entire thing. I think these are the things that we should not take seriously. If something has really gone wrong somewhere, it should be shown and we have taken action as well. Certain actions have already been taken regarding the incident that happened in Moratuwa rightly or wrongly.

In Kandy, we haven’t faced any issues with regard to the Covid vaccination program. By the day we are learning and everybody is having a new experience with this whole process. If there are any errors, then the corrective measures should be put in place by taking that as an experience.

Q: Those who depend on daily wages have faced severe hardships owing to the current Covid-19 pandemic and request the Government to provide some sort of relief to them. Has the Government laid emphasis in this regard?

A: That is why we thought of initially giving Rs. 5000 relief allowance to them.

We have set aside Rs.35 billion for that. We are looking at a minimum of 6 to 6.5 million families to give this Rs.5000 assistance through the program which we started on Wednesday (June 2).

Q: In a natural disaster like this as to why the Opposition cannot extend their support to the Government irrespective of their political differences?

A: This is very unfortunate. The country has an Opposition of this nature where they want to make a big fuss even over a trivial matter. That is their characteristic feature and we only have to say the country’s people will feel sorry about this Opposition.

Q: Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshman Kiriella has said that the Government can claim damages from the company owned by former UNP MP Daya Gamage for breach of contract in the construction of the Central Expressway. Your views?

A: Of course. We have looked into this issue. I don’t know whether MP Kiriella must be feeling bad about it honestly because he was the Minister of Highways at that time. Obviously when he is given a contract and paid a huge advance and if that contractor had run away with that funding, it is all right to take legal action against him. Being MP Kiriella was the then Highways Minister and that contract had been offered through that Ministry, I am sure he is raising a certain amount of embarrassment on him as well.

Q: How do you view the decision taken by the UNP Working Committee to appoint its Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to fill the UNP’s National List slot?

A: As a politician, I personally knew from day one that he is the one who is going to come to Parliament. I suppose all those dramas were well planned and orchestrated by them. However, I wish him good luck.

Q: What is the inordinate delay to bring the masterminds of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks to book?

A: This is entirely in the hands of the Attorney General and the Police Department.

When we inquired and what was informed to us was that you cannot make a mistake and hurry it up. Then B reports or the charges against the culprits have to be very carefully scrutinised and then frame charges. Therefore, it will take little time but the fact of the matter is, it is proceeding.

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