Country first, our utmost priority - Prasanna Ranatunga | Sunday Observer

Country first, our utmost priority - Prasanna Ranatunga

25 December, 2022

Chief Government Whip Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga said whatever political differences they have, they are satisfied with the stance taken by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on behalf of the country so that they extend their fullest support to him.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said when they made an open request to all political party leaders to accept portfolios and join hands to get the country out of the current crisis, some of those in the Opposition were only confined to mere criticisms and they were reluctant to accept that challenge. However, Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to accept the challenge at that crucial juncture.

He said, “Whatever different political ideologies we maintain, we cannot provide any room to create an unstable situation in the country. We believe that our utmost priority should be the ‘country first’. Therefore, we reached a political stance to extend our fullest support to President Wickremesinghe who came forward and committed to work on behalf of the country without hiding and avoiding challenges.”

Excerpts

Q: You have told the media that a future election will be contested through a new alliance and the symbol of the alliance will be decided in due course. Could you explain?

A: What I told the media was that we propose that it is better to form an alliance and contest future elections. Following the discussion we had with the Opposition, we as from the Gampaha district suggested that to form a broad political alliance to contest future elections.

Q: Speculation is rife the SLPP and the UNP have entered into an alliance. What is the basis of this alliance?

A: It is not only with the UNP, now we are discussing with other parties and independent groups in Parliament as to how we should contest the upcoming Local Government elections. We would like to join hands with any party which is willing to contest under a new alliance for future elections.

Q: SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa and some Government lawmakers have said that the SLPP has already begun political activities and is ready to face any future elections, adding that they are confident of winning any future elections. Your comments?

A: When we go for an election, as a party, we always explore the possibility of winning it. Therefore, we have an early preparation for it and now we are discussing it with our local Government representatives as well. For example, we have discussed with all local government representatives in all electorates of the Gampaha district. We hope to go to the grassroots level and educate the public.

Q: Is the Government planning to postpone Local Government (LG) elections?

A: There is no such decision. We had to postpone LG elections for one year following a request by the Local Government members. We won the LG elections in 2018 when we were in the Opposition. A Presidential Election was held in 2019 and a Parliamentary Election was held in 2020. The country was locked down due to the Covid-19 pandemic by the end of 2020.

Hence, a request was made to postpone the LG elections by one year as there was no room for the Local Government members to fulfill their duties on behalf of the public as they expected. LG elections were postponed by one year in accordance with the provisions in the Constitution. We have no intention to go beyond that. As a party, we are getting ready to go for an election.

Q: The Opposition alleges that the SLPP is scared to face any type of elections and hence plans to postpone elections. What is your comment?

A: We have not asked to postpone elections. As a party, we are getting ready to launch election campaigns. We have sent applications to our members calling nominations for LG elections. We have also requested newcomers who are willing to contest elections. Nobody can complain that we are going to postpone elections.  

Q: You and a large number of SLPP members were vehemently opposed to Ranil Wickremesinghe back then, but now you all praise him. Why did the SLPP back him for the presidency and are you happy with the progress he has made?

A: When Maithripala Sirisena was the President and Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Prime Minister of the former Yahapalana Government, we criticised the conduct of that entire Government. We also spoke against then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeshinghe on political stages. Finally, we could elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa as our President. Due to the crisis that emerged in the country thereafter, the President, the Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet of Ministers resigned from their portfolios and also decided that no SLPP Parliamentarian will accept the presidency or the premiership.

Having said so, we made an open request to all political Party Leaders to accept these portfolios and join hands to get the country out of the current crisis situation. Some of those in the Opposition who were just confined to mere criticisms and were reluctant to accept that challenge. However, Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to accept the challenge at the crucial juncture.

Whatever different political ideologies we maintain, we cannot provide any room to create an unstable situation in the country. We believe that our utmost priority should be the ‘country first’. Therefore, we reached a political stance to extend our fullest support to the person who came forward and committed to work on behalf of the country without hiding and avoiding challenges. That is why the SLPP decided to extend its fullest support in Parliament to elect Wickremesinghe as the President.

We are happy about the progress the President has made. We had to be in queues for six and seven hours to get fuel. Sometimes, fuel was not available and filling stations had been closed. There was no gas in the market and those who live in urban areas in Colombo and the suburbs didn’t have gas to prepare their meals. There were two to three hour power cuts and warnings of going up to 13 to 14 hour power cuts.

The people had to undergo lots of pressure and hardships. In such a crisis, Ranil Wickremesinghe accepted the challenge. At present, we have enough petrol and diesel stocks required for a month. We managed the distribution of fuel and there are no fuel queues.

Now, everybody has fuel to manage their day-to-day work and other essential work. However, we have to restrict the fuel distribution due to prevailing economic conditions. Now, gas is provided to the people without a shortage while power cuts have been reduced to two hours. Amid the protests, then President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched the Norochcholai power plant project and that is why we have been able to provide electricity even to this extent.

In the past, all former Governments didn’t go for programs to produce electricity at a low cost. That is why the Electricity Act was brought during the tenure of then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and passed after President Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed office and formulated a program to generate electricity through solar power.

President Wickremesinghe is acting by taking decisive and challenging decisions. Similarly, responsibilities have been given to everybody to manage this economic crisis and ease the cost of living burden of the people. Whatever political differences we have, we are satisfied with the stance taken by the President on behalf of the country and we extend our fullest support to him.

Q: The Opposition is alleging that the Government is suppressing Aragalaya activists and political opponents through the PTA and other measures. What is your comment?

A: This ideology is being created by political leaders such as Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Actually, this is what they did during 1988-1989. We have no intention whatsoever resorting to such activities. However, steps should be taken against the protestors who acted like terrorists. The country’s normal law should be implemented against those who killed people and set fire to the houses.

Law should also be implemented against those who took drugs and cannabis at the Aragalaya protest site and acted against the Police by disrupting law and order. Legal action should also be taken against those who were involved in various rackets under the pretext of so-called Aragalaya.

When the law is implemented against the wrongdoers, certain sections attempt to portray that as an undemocratic and suppressive move. It is obvious that their own people had resorted to those riot incidents. If those who were at the Aragalaya are UNPers, SLPPers or JVPers and they have resorted to any wrongdoing, they should be punished under the law of the country. If some political parties and leaders who cannot come to power democratically are acting in such an irresponsible manner, steps should be taken against them as well.

Q: The Opposition also alleges that the Government has no proper plan to resolve the people’s issues and that another Aragalaya is inevitable. Would you like to comment?  

A: The Opposition, somehow, wants to resort to yet another Aragalaya and create an anarchic situation in the country. The Government has a plan to manage the economic crisis and resolve other burning issues and move forward. Discussions with the IMF are going on. These measures have been taken in a very transparent manner.

The Opposition is well aware that once the IMF decision comes into operation, a lot of problems will be sorted out. Before that, the Opposition wants to go for yet another Aragalaya and create an unstable situation in the country. If somebody resorts to such terrorist activities, steps should be taken against them.

Q: Apart from the LG polls, the Opposition also demands a General Election saying that this Government has no mandate. What is your response?

A: We have a mandate. At the 2020 Parliamentary election, 156 MPs were elected from the SLPP. That is our mandate and now we are acting according to that. It is the SJB and the JVP which don’t have a mandate. That is why they attempt to create an Aragalaya in an undemocratic manner and turn the country into anarchy to put some pressure on the people.

Q: It seems that the IMF loan keeps getting delayed. When do you think we will get it?

A: The President informed the Cabinet of Ministers that the IMF is discussing with India and China. Once those discussions are over, the IMF can be asked to make their presentation and brief to party leaders representing Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers.

Those who are in favour and against this will be able to express their views directly.

Q: Is there any plan on the part of the Government to provide relief to the public?

A: It was discussed at the Cabinet to implement some programs for the low income groups and elders who are above 70 years. However, these steps will have to be taken after resolving the major issue of the economic crisis. The Government has laid emphasis to provide relief to these deserving groups.

Q: State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon told Parliament recently that former President Maithripala Sirisena cannot walk away from the responsibility of 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. Your views?

A: Even the Presidential Commission has stated that as the state leader and Minister in charge of the defence at the time, he had shirked his responsibilities for not taking preventive measures when the information was divulged on the incident. We have already submitted the Presidential Commission’s report to the Attorney General’s Department. They will have to act accordingly.

Q: Over 40 SLPP Parliamentarians have crossed over to the Opposition and function as several independent groups in Parliament. Is there any possibility of rejoining them to the SLPP?

A: They are also a group of our SLPP Parliamentarians. We had 156 SLPP MPs. At present, there are 126 MPs in the Government. We have not removed any MP. We hope to reunite all those who contested the last Parliamentary election under the SLPP banner and move forward as a stable and strong Government. 

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