Former Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said some Opposition political parties which are not in a position to come to power democratically are attempting to create an unstable situation in the country to grab power.
The former Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the people have the right to conduct peaceful protests.
However, they should realise that the situation which prevailed during the tenure of the former Yahapalana Government has also led to the current economic crisis.
The main Opposition SJB and JVP want to create a crisis situation in the country to realise their narrow political objectives.
The Opposition was aware that we will have to face this crisis situation so they somehow provoked the people and brought them on to the streets on April 3.
Excerpts of the interview
Q: What were the decisions reached at the Government’s group meeting held on Wednesday?
A: It discussed the prevailing fuel, gas and ongoing power cuts. Approval was also given to import the required amount of chemical fertiliser and instructions were given to encourage the import of organic fertiliser. It was also asked to give priority to solve the fuel issue and find necessary allocations to import fuel under the Indian Credit Line.
Of the imported fuel stocks, instructions were given to provide sufficient fuel to the power sector. Allocations were also made to provide the balance amount of money required to import medicinal drugs. In addition, the new Cabinet of Ministers has not yet been appointed. The Government has made an open invitation if anybody can show they have 113 MPs in Parliament, even the Prime Minister agreed that we would hand over the Government to them including the premiership.
Otherwise, there is the possibility of forming a coalition Government in collaboration with Opposition political parties. Then the portfolios will be given to those who join the coalition Government. It was also explained as to how the Treasury bond scam occurred during the tenure of the former Yahapalana Government and the Covid-19 pandemic which paved the way for the current economic crisis.
Tourist arrivals and foreign remittances have declined while many people lost their employment due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, we also had to face the consequences of the global economic crisis.
At present tourist arrivals have shown a considerable increase and over 100, 000 tourists come to Sri Lanka each month. The number of people leaving for foreign employment has also increased and their remittances will reach the country within the next three to four months. Then we would be able to find a timely solution to this issue.
We would be able to get over this crisis with the assistance of the IMF and World Bank. However, it will take some time to overcome this crisis. The Opposition was aware that we will have to face this crisis situation so they somehow provoked the people and brought them on to the streets on April 3.
Q: At present 40 SLPP Parliamentarians have become independent in Parliament. Does the Government still command its majority in Parliament?
A: Yes. Still the Government has its majority and we have 118 MPs. There are justifiable reasons for some of the SLPP Parliamentarians who quit the Government and became independent in Parliament. If solutions are given to their issues, sometimes they will join hands with the Government again.
Q: Some legal experts have pointed out that if the Prime Minister has not resigned, then the Cabinet of Ministers has not technically dissolved. Your comments?
A: The legal experts argue that handing over the letters of resignation to the Prime Minister was wrong. Actually, we gave our resignation letters to the Prime Minister since the President can sign those letters at any time. Thereafter the Prime Minister can use those letters and say the Cabinet of Ministers has resigned.
After the Cabinet was dissolved, four new Ministers were sworn in. Even if the Parliament is dissolved, the Cabinet of Ministers can function until the next election is held. Actually, we should have the ability to function until somebody shows 113 MPs to form a Government.
What the Prime Minister proposed was that we all should resign from our portfolios. Then we proposed that the Prime Minister should not resign since the legislature cannot function. So, we requested the Premier not to resign and give portfolios to those who are capable enough to get rid from the current economic crisis.
This is an issue created over the past so many years due to the shortcomings of Government officials and administrative errors under various former Governments which ruled the country.
The Cabinet of Ministers said they are ready to make any sacrifice to rectify this error. Even the State Ministers said that they are ready to resign at any time and extend their fullest support to anybody who can run the Government.
Q: At present the Opposition is not in a position to muster 113 MPs and form a Government. If this trend continues, will it lead to an unstable situation in the country?
A: If the Opposition is not in a position to seek 113 MPs and form a Government, that is why we have requested them to form a coalition Government. Even the Mahanayake theras through a letter sent to the President also requested to form a coalition Government and try to resolve the present economic crisis.
Amidst the severe economic hardships, we are not in a position to go for an election. Following the request made by the Mahanayake Theras, the President invited all political parties represented in Parliament to join hands to form a coalition Government.
However, the SJB and JVP turned down the President’s request. What they really want is to create a crisis situation in the country and realise their narrow political objectives.
Q: If the main Opposition SJB and other Opposition parties are not in favour of forming a coalition Government, what would be the solution to the ongoing crisis?
A: Then we will have to form a caretaker Government with the help of the SLPP MPs who have become independent in Parliament. Otherwise, there is no other alternative.
Q: At present countrywide protests are being held by people demanding that the President and the Government to quit immediately. Your views?
A: There are some political motives behind these protests. We have a suspicion on the person wearing a helmet who got into the vehicle of JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Madiwela Parliament exit while he was talking to some protestors.
It is obvious these ‘helmet gangs’ take the lead to countrywide protests and create issues. The political parties which are not in a position to come to power democratically are seeking to create an uprising in the country to grab power.
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) is also behind these acts and its members are attempting to create a crisis situation in the country. When the people engage in peaceful protests, they come to those places and attempt to create a chaotic situation. In most of the areas, these outside people join the protests and attempt to provoke the people. The people have the right to conduct peaceful protests. However, they should realise the situation which prevailed during the tenure of the former Yahapalana Government has also led to create this situation.
We need dollars to pay back the local and foreign debt obtained from 2015. Today we have faced a dollar crisis. The programs we have commenced to get rid from this crisis are becoming successful.
At present a large number of tourists is coming to Sri Lanka and the number of Sri Lankans going for overseas employment has increased. In addition, we have reduced our expenditure and stopped unnecessary imports to the country. However, it will take some time to see these results. The Opposition knows we will get rid of this crisis. That is why they attempted to create this situation at the last moment.
Q: At present people are under the impression that all 225 Parliamentarians should go home. Does it mean that the people have lost their confidence in people’s representatives?
A: This is just a slogan. It is clearly evident if 225 MPs are asked to go home, the criticism is leveled only against the Government Parliamentarians. The Opposition MPs are not targeted and they organise and conduct protests as well.
The Opposition MPs can participate in those protests. Nobody attacked them or their houses. If all these 225 Parliamentarians are rejected, all of their houses should be attacked. During the former Yahapalana Government, they committed a Central Bank bond scam and also sold state properties.
Then politicians such as Anura Dissanayake who makes a big hue and cry today should have vehemently criticised such moves those days but that didn’t happen. They want to create a situation similar to the 1983 Black July or 1988-1989 youth insurgency.
The youths who are below 30 years have come out and joined these protests. The intelligent children of today’s generation should look at history and see how the 1983 Black July occurred and its repercussions.
Similarly, they should look at how the youth uprising emerged in 1988-1989 where nearly 60,000 youths were killed as a result of it.
However, then President J.R. Jayewardene didn’t resign in 1983 or the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa didn’t resign in 1988-1989. There was a terrorist conflict in this country for over the past 30 years.
We should seriously consider who provokes youth to create anarchy in the country. The children should also know how to fulfill their duties on behalf of the country. Those who gained free education and entered State universities should commit themselves to developing the country rather than contributing to creating an unstable situation in the country.
Otherwise nobody would approve the moves taken to lead the country towards anarchy. It is their right to conduct peaceful demonstrations and point out the Government’s mistakes. If the politicians’ houses are attacked, public properties are damaged and roads are obstructed to create inconvenience to the people, then the people would reject these children. Therefore, at this critical juncture, the children should act in an intelligent manner.
Q: At present the vast majority of the people are demanding to change the corrupt political culture. Is there any truth in this allegation?
A: If the country’s political system is corrupt, legislation should be brought to Parliament to change it. However, it would not happen if the protests are conducted on roads. Therefore, we have to make these changes within the democratic process.
Q: Mahanayake theras, some Government and Opposition lawmakers and the people are asking the incumbent Government to quit and form an interim or caretaker Government for the next six months. Have the Opposition made a positive response in this regard?
A: No. The Opposition wants to further worsen this crisis situation and turn the country into a bloodbath. They have no genuine desire to provide a lasting solution to the current crisis situation.
Q: Some Government lawmakers who became independent say at present there is a huge public displeasure against the Government. Your comments?
A: This is an artificially created displeasure against the Government. At present the people are facing hardships. When there is no electricity, the children may also be seriously affected. It is a problem for their parents as well. If there is no fuel, it seriously affects all those who use vehicles including motorcycles.
Those who are engaged in the hotel and tourism sectors have been economically affected due to the power cuts. As I mentioned earlier, this is not a crisis that was created after this Government came to power.
When the people conducted protests due to hardships faced by them, we all agreed to resign from our ministerial portfolios paving the way to form a caretaker Government. Nearly 6.9 million people voted for the President while 5.8 million people gave a two thirds majority to the Government at the last parliamentary election.
It is all right if these protests are conducted within the democratic process. However, it is wrong if this kind of crisis situation emerges by going against the democratic process.
Q: Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that a solution to this crisis should be formed with the consensus of all political parties in Parliament. Would you agree?
A: Yes. If we all join hands irrespective of political differences, we would be able to find a solution to this crisis. However, the Opposition is not willing to do so. They act according to their political agendas rather than contribute to resolving the crisis.
Q: Chief Government Whip Minister Johnston Fernando told Parliament that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not step down and that the Government will face the current situation. Would you like to air your views?
A: In 1983, then President J. R. Jayewardene was asked to quit but he didn’t. He faced the situation and rescued the country from that crisis situation. Similarly, in 1988-1989, over 60,000 people were killed and the then President Ranasinghe Premadsa was asked to step down but he refused as well.
The Opposition political parties want to create a similar situation to 1988-1989. We don’t want to fall into their ulterior motive and allow the people to sacrifice their lives and lead the country towards a crisis situation.
That is why we stepped down from our Cabinet ministerial portfolios paving the way to create democratic governance in the country. However, the Opposition groups don’t have such a genuine intention. Then we will have to face this situation. We think the President should not step down. Anybody who wishes to accept a Cabinet portfolio can join hands and extend his support with honest intention to resolve this crisis.
Q: TNA Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran told Parliament on Wednesday that if the Government has a mandate to govern then why did all the Cabinet Ministers tender their resignations? Could you explain?
A: When the people wanted to see a change, we provided the opportunity for it. We didn’t decide to further retain power in a greedy manner. We allowed the people to create a necessary environment conducive to effect the change. We are of the view that all political parties should join hands to get rid of this crisis. That is why the entire Cabinet of Ministers tendered their resignation.
Q: How do you view the proposal made by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament on Tuesday to abolish the Executive Presidency and appoint a Prime Minister who is held responsible to Parliament?
A: Then legislation should be brought to Parliament for that purpose. I don’t think anybody will oppose it if all the parties get together and take a collective decision regarding that. If the Executive Presidency is abolished, then there are serious issues to be addressed such as the Provincial Council system and the provincial Governors.
Q: The Opposition and certain sections say the country has plunged into a severe economic crisis and the Government has failed to provide a solution to the shortage of fuel, gas and ongoing power cuts. Your views?
A: We hope this situation will turn into normalcy within the next few weeks. At present, necessary fuel stocks are coming to the country so that this issue will be resolved very soon.