Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the present Opposition doesn’t want to see the country’s Covid-19 situation under control and the Government provides food and other relief measures to the people. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the Opposition doesn’t want to ban the use of chemical fertiliser, construct the Colombo Port City and continue the ongoing development drive in the country. They somehow want to see the Government fail and topple.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a responsible Opposition which joined hands with the Government even in a natural calamity like this. Instead of criticising the Government’s Covid-19 program, the present Opposition doesn’t extend any support to the Government to control the pandemic.
Excerpts
Q: There is a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases and some say the health authorities have not been able to address the situation. Could you explain?
A: There are a limited number of ICU beds in hospitals and we have to manage with them. It is obvious, the number of Covid-19 cases has increased. However, the Government has tried its level best to manage the situation. Steps have been taken to increase the number of hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients in each district. Still, no huge scarcity has been created with regard to the ICU beds in hospitals.
According to statistics, the recovery rate of the Covid-19 patients has also been increased. Therefore, steps have been taken to increase the number of beds in hospitals in keeping with the increasing number of Covid-19 cases. There is no huge congestion in hospitals as highlighted by certain sections and so far, the Government has been able to manage the situation.
Q: Don’t you think the people not adhering to health guidelines has also paved the way to increase the number of Covid-19 cases in the country?
A: Certainly. We had to close the Dambulla Economic Centre but the farmers had attempted to sell vegetables by force. In a situation like this, the people have also a national responsibility to adhere to the health guidelines and extend their cooperation to control the situation.
We saw the number of people visiting Nuwara Eliya during the Sinhala New Year season. Therefore, the people should also act in a responsible manner without always putting the blame on the Government.
Q: The Opposition says the Government should either go for a total lockdown of the country or impose travel restrictions in certain areas where there is a significant increase of the Covid-19 cases. Your views?
A: The Opposition can make such absurd statements but we have to see whether there is any country which has gone for a total lockdown. If the country is locked down, it would seriously affect the economy. There are a large number of people who depend on various jobs. Therefore, we have to look into the livelihood aspects of those people as well. However, we have already imposed a lot of restrictions to control the situation.
At present the number of vehicles moving in Colombo and other areas of the country has come down. The number of employees reporting to work in ministries and other Government institutions has been reduced due to restrictions imposed. Except travel restrictions, all other restrictions have already been imposed to contain the situation. Therefore, the Government has already taken all necessary steps to face the fresh Covid-19 wave.
Q: Opposition politicians and certain sections complain that some Government lawmakers make an undue influence on the Covid-19 program by ignoring the guidelines issued by the health authorities. Is there any truth in this allegation?
A: I also saw such an allegation was levelled against a Government Minister via social media. However, I don’t know whether that allegation is true or not.
If any Minister had made such interference disregarding the health guidelines, that is wrong. I don’t think that particular Minister would have resorted to such action. For example, one of my security personnel tested positive so that I am still under quarantine. As responsible Ministers, we should extend our fullest cooperation to the Government’s Covid-19 program.
Q: In a national disaster like this, a responsible Opposition in all countries extends their support to the Government. It seems instead of criticising the Government’s Covid-19 program, the present Opposition doesn’t extend their support to the Government to control the Covid-19 pandemic. Your comments?
A: We cannot expect such support from the current Opposition. During the battle against terrorism, they were the very same people who described Medawachchiya as Kilinochchi. They said any idiot can launch a military operation. This is a very irresponsible Opposition. Can we see they have any qualities or principles? It seems UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has some sort of understanding about the current situation than present Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. What does the present Opposition Leader know?
He meets the Ambassadors and seeks their assistance. We would like to ask him whether we have received at least a pin following the requests made by him from the Ambassadors. Sajith Premadasa met the Ambassadors of some European countries including the US which voted against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva. Could he get at least a pin to Sri Lanka? This is an absolute joke. The Opposition Leader meets the Ambassadors and asks them to impose restrictions on our country. At the same time, he goes to the villages and says that he sought assistance for Sri Lanka. This is what the present Opposition is doing right now.
Q: The main Opposition SJB attempts to portray that the Government has politicised the Covid-19 program by ignoring the instructions given by the health authorities. Would you like to comment on this?
A: The Covid Committee is represented by the Health Ministry, GMOA, doctors and other medical experts. They always make unanimous decisions. Otherwise, they don’t resort to any individual decisions.
Actually, the Opposition doesn’t want to see that Covid-19 situation is under control or provide food and other reliefs to the people. They don’t like to ban the use of chemical fertiliser. The Opposition doesn’t like to construct the Colombo Port City or the ongoing development taking place in the country. They somehow want to see the Government fail and topples. We have such Opposition in our country. Unfortunately, we don’t have an Opposition which joined hands with the Government even in a natural calamity like this.
Q: The Opposition has raised concern on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill and says it has bypassed the powers of Parliament.
A: There is no such issue as raised by the Opposition. We will pass the Bill in Parliament. As we see, there is nothing wrong in the Port City Bill which has gone beyond the existing law of the country. It will be implemented by fully adhering to the Constitution and other rules and regulations in the country.
Q: However, the Opposition says the Government would have given at least sufficient time for the people to study the Port City Bill. Your views?
A: The Port City was started seven years ago. What else should be studied? This project was started by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2014. Does it mean that they should be allowed to study on this project even more than seven years? This project was continued even during the tenure of the Yahapalana Government and their Cabinet also approved it.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa and Champika Ranawaka were also in that Cabinet. At present, the Opposition attempts to make a big fuss on the Port City Bill. However, the people are not ignorant as they think and they are aware of the true situation.
Q: As certain sections highlight there is a collapse on the dignity and decorum in Parliament as some Parliamentarians resort to unruly behaviour. What is the solution to overcome this situation?
A: The Speaker should be stricter on the conduct and language used by MPs in Parliament. The Opposition should not be allowed to resort to such unruly behaviour and use unparliamentary language. If the Speaker is stricter, it would be able to control the situation.
Under the pretext of Parliament privileges, the Opposition is resorting to an unparliamentary conduct in the well of the House. It would be much better if the Speaker is more keen on the conduct of some MPs in Parliament. Otherwise, they would misuse the opportunity and take the Parliament to a wrong direction.
Q: How do you view the present plight faced by the Opposition?
A: At present there is a severe crisis in the main Opposition. It seems there is a ‘triangular conflict’ among Ranil, Champika and Sajith. In addition, Mangala and Chandrika have also launched another battle. Therefore, the Opposition has been divided into four factions.
All these four factions are trying to achieve various things. The Opposition is not in a position to do anything due to this internal crisis. It is regrettable to note that we don’t have a responsible Opposition which extends its support to the Government even on matters of national importance.
Q: After a lapse of over one and a half years, the UNP has not been able to fill its National List MP slot. Would you like to comment on this?
A: This is not because of the UNP’s inability to fill it. What UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe wants is to create a breakaway group in the Sajith faction and then come to Parliament. Otherwise, Wickremesinghe has no idea to come to Parliament alone.
Q: As reported by the media 11 constituent party leaders of the Government had recently met former President Maithripala Sirisena. Is there any confrontation among the constituent parties of the Government?
A: On various occasions, Party Leaders meet at various places and party offices. They had recently met at Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s residence, Minister Udaya Gammanpila’s office and also the SLFP and LSSP party offices. They do this on a rotational basis. However, there is no issue whatsoever among the constituent parties of the Government. The President and the Prime Minister are working closely with all these parties. They have also extended their fullest support to take the Government forward to fulfill the expectations of the people.
Q: Have any issues faced by the vegetable farmers in selling their products owing to the current pandemic?
A: There was only an issue at Dambulla Economic Centre. There is no issue regarding upcountry vegetables and this issue was just confined only to low country vegetables.
In order to overcome the situation, we have reopened the Dambulla Economic Centre. Therefore, that problem has been sorted out now. At present, there is no major issue faced by the farmers in selling their vegetables.
Q: What is the progress of the Government’s paddy purchasing program?
A: We have purchased nearly 75,000 Metric tons of paddy for the Maha season. Still we are providing rice to the CWE, Co-operatives and supermarkets.
We have no issue with providing rice within the next three months. Still the Government paddy purchasing program continues. Earlier, a kilogram of paddy was purchased at Rs. 55. However, we have resorted back to the controlled price with effect from May 1 and a kilogram of paddy is now purchased between the rate of Rs. 50 to 52.