Minister of Lands S.M. Chandrasena said that there is no crisis in the Government as highlighted by the Opposition. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that there is a shortcoming on the part of some coalition party leaders of the Government when they express dissenting views outside on certain issues.
“However, these coalition parties have no idea whatsoever to quit the Government. We have a group of party leaders who maintain firm policies and political ideologies. If the Opposition thinks some coalition parties would quit the Government and join hands with them, that would never happen. As Cabinet Ministers, we all should maintain the collective responsibility of the Government and commit ourselves to protect the Government,” the Minister said.
Excerpts
Q: Is there any rift in the Government over the Yugadanavi power plant issue as the People’s Council represented by Government party leaders highly criticised the agreement signed with New Fortress Energy?
A: This Yagadanavi power plant issue was discussed at the Cabinet meeting. However, nobody made a request to extensively discuss the issue at the Cabinet. Even the President told the Cabinet that this is a good project and should be implemented immediately as a solution to the country’s power crisis.
We also have an issue on the statements by some Ministers as coalition party leaders of the Government. The Prime Minister at a recent meeting with the coalition party leaders said most people have forgotten the attempts made to divide the country during the tenure of Ranil Wickremesinghe.
It were the Rajapaksas who united the country divided and betrayed by them. It is an absolute joke if somebody attempts to say that the country will be undermined or betrayed as a result of this power plant. Countries such as the US and China have made their investments in the countries. The Yugadanavi power plant is also just another investment in Sri Lanka by the US-based company. Otherwise, as certain sections attempt to portray, nobody would be able capture power in our country through this power plant or making investments in the energy sector.
The President and the Prime Minister at a recent meeting with the coalition party leaders said that if there were any shortcomings in the agreement, those could be rectified when finalising it. If some coalition party leaders openly criticise the project without discussing it within the Government, it is like they give ammunition to the Opposition to create an unnecessary issue.
Some Government coalition parties have panicked over an issue even though the Opposition doesn’t react in such a manner. Such acts would pave the way to create disunity within the Government. If some of our own parties try to create mistrust among the people, it would not be good for the future of the Government.
This is an SLPP led Government formed in collaboration with several parties by making a lot of sacrifices. All these political parties are stakeholders of the Government. They should keep in mind if something happens to the Government, that would affect them as well. The constituent parties together with the SLPP should commit themselves to protect the Government. If they express dissenting views to the public gallery, that would weaken the strength of the Government. The issues of the Government should be resolved within it without publicly crticising them.
When a coalition Government is in power, stakeholders should not discuss its internal issues in public and try to resolve them within the Government. However, the issues to be discussed within the Government are exposed in public by some of its coalition parties. I see this as a weakness on their part.
Q: Some Government backbenchers have raised serious concern of taking disciplinary action against coalition party leaders saying that they have openly criticised the Yugadanavi power plant issue at a recent public forum violating the collective responsibility of the Government. Your views.
A: I am also of the view that we should sort out our issues within the Government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Our Prime Minister is a veteran politician who has ruled the country for 10 years as the President and represented Parliament for several decades.
He can work closely with all coalition partners of the Government and other leftist forces in unison. When the coalition partners are in a position to discuss their issues with the President and the Prime Minister, they have resorted to expressing dissenting views outside on certain issues. We have to accept the comments made by backbenchers who say that it is not appropriate to criticise the Government’s internal issues in public.
Q: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the fifth anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) called for unity within the party and among their coalition partners and stressed the importance of all to stand together as one flock. Would you like to comment?
A: Since the first day the SLPP was formed, I am also one of the members who firmly stands together by making a lot of sacrifices on behalf of my party. We try our best to move forward as one flock with unity to meet the expectations of the people. Anybody can express dissenting views with aggressive form. However, responsible politicians should not resort to speaking in such a manner.
There are only 29 Cabinet Ministers in the Government. As Cabinet Ministers, we all should maintain the collective responsibility of the Government and commit ourselves to protect the Government. As the stakeholders of the Government, we should love it more than the people. The members of the Cabinet should not turn into the level of those who speak to the public gallery. If there are issues or disputes, we should resolve them within the Government, not outside.
Q: The Opposition attempts to portray a crisis within the Government as some Government Ministers publicly make some contradictory statements to the media. Your comments?
A: There is no crisis in the Government as highlighted by the Opposition. There is a shortcoming on the part of some coalition party leaders when they express dissenting views in public. However, these coalition parties have no idea whatsoever to quit the Government or isolate it. If they quit the Government, can they join hands with Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, Anura Dissanayake, Sampanthan or Rauff Hakeem to form a Government?
There is a sky high gap among the policies of these parties and our constituent parties. I don’t think any coalition party would quit the Government and align with them. Our coalition party leaders will not turn into that level. We have a group of party leaders who maintain firm policies and political ideologies. If the Opposition thinks some coalition parties would quit the Government and join hands with, them that would never happen. We have that confidence.
Q: The Opposition says they don’t need to provoke the people as the Government claims and the people have come to the streets due to severe hardships faced by them. Would you like to elaborate your views?
A: The world has faced a severe economic crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we are not going to cover up all the issues under the pretext of pandemic. Even the economies of developed countries have faced a setback. The prices of all imported foods and other commodities such as cement, gas, petrol, and diesel have gone up in the World Market. This has led to an increase in the prices of our goods as well.
Budget 2022 would create an environment conducive to increase the country’s production process. We hope as a result of it, we would be able to provide a big relief to the people, and the economy would also be in a good shape in the middle of next year.
Q: How do you view the recent comment by LSSP General Secretary MP Prof. Tissa Vitarana who expressed his dissatisfaction over the decisions by the SLPP as well as its political objectives?
A: We have given Cabinet ministerial portfolios based on the strength and seniority of our coalition party leaders. Except the leader of the party, State ministerial portfolios have been given to some of their members. Some members of those parties have been given National List MP slots. We have not neglected or undermined any of our small parties in the Government.
Q: Is there a genuine cause behind the protests launched by farmers demanding to provide organic fertiliser to cultivate in the Maha season?
A: This is a wave of organised protests by farmers. The JVP slogans are mostly said at these protests. Farmers are an innocent and decent group of people. They never resort to inhuman acts and burning effigies. Hatred and violence are displayed at most of these protests due to the interference of those who behaved in such brutal manner during 1988-1989.
However, genuine farmers are also in these protests. Most farmers are not educated on the organic fertiliser program. Those who should educate the farmers have not done it.
It was the environmentalists who stressed the importance of using organic fertiliser to create a country free from pesticides. Doctors and others in the health sector encouraged the President to promote the use of organic fertiliser. Those who do not have an understanding of organic fertiliser have joined these protests.
If the President wants, he can grant permission to import chemical fertiliser. Then, we would not be able to reach the target of promoting organic farming. I also told the President at the Cabinet meeting if the farmers demand chemical fertiliser without considering its adverse effects such as kidney diseases and cancers, allow them to use chemical fertiliser.
However, the President is of the view that he doesn’t want to turn the country into the old situation by allowing the use of chemical fertiliser.
Q: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament that Sri Lanka is moving fast towards a severe food shortage due to the Government’s ad hoc decision to shift the agriculture industry towards organic fertiliser from chemical fertiliser. Is there any truth in this?
A: There may be a decline in production when agriculture is shifted from chemical fertiliser to organic fertiliser. However, until this program turns to a success, even the Finance Minister has given the assurance that we will import food items without letting the people to be hungry.
Q: State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana has said over the past week, it has been observed that there is a trend of a gradual increase in new Covid-19 cases reported in the country. Will any decision be taken by the Government to introduce strict guidelines during the festive season next month?
A: It is the public who are compelled to impose travel restrictions by disregarding the health guidelines. The people are educated on how to prevent from Covid-19. Most people are cautious about the pandemic. However, those who organise protests bring hundreds of people to the streets violating health guidelines.
The protests by the teachers and farmers have led to the spread of the Covid-19 cases. The irresponsible conduct of certain sections of the people would cause Covid clusters to emerge. It would eventually compel the Government to impose interprovincial travel restrictions and lockdowns.
Q: The UNP has called to abolish the Presidential Task Force on “One country, one law” as it is detrimental to the unity of the country. Your views?
A: It was Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera who always spoke about the “One country, one law”. The President has given him an opportunity to submit his proposals in this regard. However, the proposals put forward by the Presidential Task Force headed by Ven. Gnanasara Thera would not be the final decision.
The Presidential Task Force would submit its proposals to the Justice Minister. They would be reviewed by a team of legal experts and submitted to the Cabinet and Parliament. The proposals have to be debated and approved by Parliament.