Justice Minister Ali Sabry said that most of the countries stand together when it comes to the national interest and national security. But in Sri Lanka, we are divided on political, racial and ethnic basis which is very unfortunate. The Minister, in an interview with the Sunday Observer, said we need to work together to protect the country because when the country does well that is how even the Opposition will get a good country to govern if they come to power. It is unfortunate that the Opposition doesn’t believe in that. They think naming and shaming the Government in international flora will help them, but it is going to be counterproductive to them.
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Q: As Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the UNHRC on Tuesday, the Government rejects any external initiatives purportedly established by Resolution 46/1. Would you like to comment?
A: We categorically reject that resolution. We think that it is unnecessary at this point in time. As they have acknowledged, we have made some progress. Some of the things they have failed to understand are the difficulties the country and the world have undergone during the last one and a half years.
Despite on such a situation, they have acknowledged that the institutions that come under my Ministry such as the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) and the Office for Missing Persons (OMP) have done a lot of work. Rather than confronting, they should work with us to bridge the gap.
Q: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in an oral update at the UNHRC in Geneva on September 13 expressed a number of concerns about Sri Lanka, including the state of emergency declared on essential commodities. Will the Government provide a comprehensive response to her?
A: Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris in his address to the UNHRC on Tuesday responded to these concerns. We will continue to engage the UN and members of the UNHRC along with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. We have raised and addressed our side of the story.
Emergency regulations are not for any purpose other than to serve the public. Essential services have to be carried out, managed and maintained. We are there to ensure that.
Q: When grave human rights violations are taking place in some other countries, as to why Sri Lanka is deliberately targeted by some Western countries at the UNHRC?
A: That is an unfortunate situation. Now in the new age, through social media and international media, we can see how human rights violations are taking place all over the world. Under such circumstances, we have made a remarkable progress since the end of the battle against terrorism in 2009. This is unwarranted, but we continue to engage the international community. We work with them as our partners. We are an open and transparent democracy. We have three organs of the Government as checks and balances. The country is a strong functioning democracy with a strong Press. I don’t think we deserve the kind of treatments which have been meted out to us regularly.
Q: When the country has faced a challenge before the UNHRC, it seems the Opposition remains silent without providing any sort of assistance to the Government to overcome the challenge. Your views?
A: It is an unfortunate situation. Most of the countries stand together when it comes to the national interest and national security. But in Sri Lanka, we are divided on political, racial and ethnic basis. That is unfortunate.
We need to work together to protect the country because when the country does well that is how even the Opposition will get a good country to govern if they even come to power. It is unfortunate that the Opposition doesn’t believe in that. They think naming and shaming the Government in international flora will help them, but it is going to be counterproductive to them.
Q: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has raised concern on the appointment of former State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal as the new Central Bank Governor by saying that it poses a threat to the credibility and independence of that institution. Would you like to comment?
A: I don’t think the point raised by the Opposition Leader is correct. Former State Minister Cabraal had been a Central Bank Governor before, during difficult and challenging times from 2006 to 2015. His record is there for everyone to see. He managed the economy and currency well. He managed the institution well during the height of the battle against terrorism. The situation now commands and demands somebody of that knowledge and experience. He is sacrificing his state ministerial portfolio by taking over this position. That is a good thing to do.
Q: The Opposition attempts to create a wrong impression on the decision taken by the Government to discourage the imports of 623 non-essential items. Your comments?
A: We need to understand that we are in a Dollar crisis. In 2018, we got close to a revenue of Rs.5 billion out of tourism. Now, this has come to almost zero. There is a balance of payment crisis in terms of the Forex that is coming into the country and going out of the country.
The remittances have come down. As a result, we need to preserve foreign currency as much as possible until we get over this crisis. By planning this, the Government will also lose revenue to the Treasury in terms of taxes. But a larger national interest demands us to protect the foreign currency outflow. Therefore, we need to protect our Dollars these days.
Q: How do you view the comment made by JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the Finance Bill recently passed in Parliament is an attempt to turn black money to white?
A: Not only in Sri Lanka, all over the world, these amnesties are given from time to time. Such amnesties have been given even in England and India. Sri Lanka during the UNP regime in 2002 and even prior to that under the late Finance Minister Dr. N.M. Perera, these amnesties were given. What we want is for the economy to be kicked up. So, these circulated monies need to be taken. As a result of it, we can also reduce the non-performing files and close the cases and concentrate on ongoing matters.
Q: How do you view President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s current visit to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, USA?
A: This is an important visit. Last year, the President couldn’t go. We are a proud member of the United Nations and a responsible member of the international community. We have always stood for the common good of the UN values. In that context, it is important that we go there and make our presence and present the country’s short, medium and long term goals. It will bring a lot of goodwill to the country.
Q: Concerns have been raised as to why the trial against the culprits of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks takes time. Could you explain?
A: These are complicated inquiries and investigations. The Government cannot pin somebody and put him behind bars. There is a legal procedure which has to be followed. Investigations have to be carried out based on any complaints. Those investigations are being carried out by the CID, TID and other law enforcement authorities.
They will have to prepare documents on all investigations and give them to the Attorney General to prepare his papers. It is the Attorney General who decides who can be prosecuted and cannot be prosecuted. These indictments have over 23,000 charges. Those take a lot of time. A new AG has come. Now, the indictments have been served. Main trials will commence on October 4. Things are taking place. All takes place in terms of the law. Neither the President nor the Government can be directly involved in prosecuting somebody and imprisoning him. That is the duty of the Judiciary. When the trial takes place, things will come to light as to how these 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks have occurred.
Q: Over half of Sri Lanka’s population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19. How do you view the success of the Government’s vaccination drive?
A: It is a remarkable story. You can see outside the Western and developed world. We are one of the fastest vaccinated communities in the world.
At least one dose of the vaccine has been administered to around 63 percent of the population whereas both doses of the vaccine have been administered to nearly 50 percent of the population.
We have made great strides in terms of vaccination. The results will be evident probably by the end of October and early November. By that time, the Covid-19 pandemic will come to a manageable state.
Q: What was the outcome of your recent meeting with United Nations Resident Representative of Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer?
A: Several areas of mutual concerns were raised. We discussed particularly the wellbeing and welfare of the people. I have been working with them for a long time to get their support for prison reforms and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
I agreed with Hanaa Singer when she said that drug addicts need treatment. That is a medical problem and not a criminal problem. It is important that we get together to implement a rehabilitation program.
Q: There is a lack of a vibrant Opposition which works with the Government even in a natural disaster like this. Your views?
A: This is the time that we should have a common body which consists of the Opposition and the Government to have a common strategy to work as a team.
For example, what is happening to our students at schools is unthinkable and unconscionable. We all have respect for our teachers. A vast majority of the teachers are nice and wonderful human beings. But they are under the clutches of some trade union leaders.
They are exploiting this situation and pushing the Government against the wall which is unfair. It is not the Government which is going to be inconvenienced.
They are playing with the future of our younger generation. The Opposition is behind this. This is unfortunate because this is not the time to settle our course.
This is the time for everyone to come forward, stand together and solve problems. It is unfortunate that the Opposition has decided to do politics at this time. It will push back the younger generation who will miss their education. It is time that we should not do these things.
These are the problems which have not been resolved over the past 24 years. How do we solve all these within a year or two? That is not possible.
We need a little bit of time to do that. I request the members of the noble teaching profession to defy self-centered union leaders and continue their great work to help our future generation in their educational pursuit.