He should be given a reasonable period of time to resurrect the economy:
All-Party Government is thebest way forward:
Government needs to think of the country and issues faced by the people:
Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry, PC said that at present the majority of Parliamentarians have affirmed President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the right person. Therefore, we must proceed and give him some reasonable period of time to resurrect the economy and address the burning issues faced by the people.
The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that he thinks the SLPP party hierarchy and the President will discuss and try to form an All-Party Government so that there will be less resistance for the country to get out of the current economic crisis. He said: “What we are saying is that whatever happened in the recent past cannot happen every three months. You must allow a reasonable period of time for the new Government to prove themselves. This is an opportunity for us to join hands irrespective of political differences. All of us should work together in a united Parliament with an All-Party Government that is the best way forward”.
Excerpts of the interview
Q: How do you view the election of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new President by 134 votes in Parliament on Wednesday?
A: That was a reflection of the majority of Parliament. That is what is being stated in the Constitution. So, the constitutional process has taken place and everyone in this country including all 225 Members of Parliament has given the pledge in terms of schedule 6 to protect and uphold the Constitution. Now this process is finished and the majority has selected a new President. So, everyone must get together and support the new President.
Q: When the SLPP had taken a decision to nominate Ranil Wickremesinghe as its Presidential Candidate, what led a group of SLPP MPs along with the main Opposition, SJB to field SLPP Parliamentarian Dullas Allahapperuma as their Presidential Candidate?
A: Actually, that was not a decision taken by the SLPP. Basically, all MPs are educated people. So, they were given an opportunity for them to think and identify the situation they feel at this critical time.
So, they had taken a decision on their own and now we must respect that. Some thought it is good to negotiate with the people who are involved in the process and some thought the country’s security and stability is important. Some were under the impression that the economy is important.
Ultimately, that debate is now done and dusted. Now the majority of Parliamentarians have affirmed that President Wickremesinghe is the right person. I think we must proceed with it and allow him some reasonable period of time to resurrect the economy and address the burning issues faced by the people.
Q: SLPP Chairman Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the media on Tuesday that a large number of SLPP MPs had decided to extend their support to MP Dullas Alahapperuma but the outcome of the vote showed only a few of them had voted for him. Will this lead to creating any rift within the SLPP?
A: I don’t know who voted for MP Alahapperuma and did not. That was a secret vote and that was the idea of it. Right now, is the time for us to put everything which has passed to the backburner and support the Government because we need to think of the country and the issues faced by the people. I think both the SLPP and everyone in the Opposition must get together and give a reasonable period of time for the new Government to perform their job. That is what I feel.
Q: Was it a unanimous decision taken by the SLPP to nominate Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Presidential Candidate?
A: I don’t think so. The SLPP didn’t meet and decide like that. But all MPs know what their priorities are.
When you select a President at this crucial juncture, you can’t give a three-line width and say this is how you should vote. So, I think the majority had decided and they have spoken their mind. We must now respect that and move on.
Q: As the SLPP commands a clear majority in Parliament, are you planning to form your own Government or invite other Opposition parties to form an All-Party Government?
A: That is a matter for the party hierarchy and the President to discuss. I think they will try to form an All-Party Government so that there will be less resistance for the country to get out of the current economic crisis.
Now the situation is not about whom the President is and who is the Prime Minister. The real situation is the issues faced by the people. I think the majority thought the rule of law and law and order is important for us to have a little chance even for the resurrection of the economy. So, in that sense, I think it is good to have an All-Party Government.
Q: Various sections say the ground reality outside the Parliament is completely different and the people have faced massive hardships so that immediate measures should be taken to address these issues. Would you like to comment?
A: That is very obvious. If you don’t accept that reality you are living in your dream world. The people are suffering and they are on the streets. But there are a few handfuls who try to hijack the cause and take Sri Lanka towards anarchy. We can’t allow that to happen. But the dark reality is people are facing fuel and gas queues, food inflation, rupee depreciation as well as high food prices and power cuts. These are issues we need to address and tell the people the absolute truth.
For example, we must tell them how much we can afford to import fuel and how much we can give it to them. So, we need to find ways to manage within that. I feel if we all work together as a united Sri Lankan force without trying to take political advantages at this time and when the IMF loan arrives the supply chain will be restored while our neighbouring friends and the international community will help us to turn this situation around within the next six to 12 months.
Q: At present the people have lost faith in the parliamentary system and they are asking to change the existing political culture. Do you think there is such a need to do so?
A: Yes. I think there is a disconnection between what is happening on the ground and what some of the people in Parliament think. So, we need to continue to engage with the people on the ground and find out what their issues are and try to find solutions to them.
In the meantime, we must try to eliminate corruption and get efficient systems in and provide enough fiscal management so that it becomes sustainable.
It is not only politicians say, everybody who is involved in the administration including the Government servants and so on must do their job for the country. That is not because of politicians and the Government but because of our nation. It is a collective responsibility on each and every one of us to do our part of the job. We should know what is required to be done, payment of taxes and everything that we must do. If everyone thinks in that manner and lives with discipline, I think the country can be turned around.
Q: Still the Galle Face protesters are demanding that the newly elected President should step down. However, whatever Government and President are elected, they will have to act in accordance with the Constitution. If this trend continues, it will set up a bad precedent and lead to destabilise the country. How do you look at this scenario?
A: I think we need to understand the reality. The vast majority of the people are very peaceful. They had issues and they protested. That is understood and that is democracy. They have the right to do so and that is enshrined in the Constitution.
There is one or two percent who cannot win an election by a vote and so they want to hijack that and drive Sri Lanka towards anarchy. We can’t allow that to happen. Now the process has gone through and a new President has been elected in terms of the Constitution. He must be given a reasonable period of time to display and carry out his duties. Otherwise, what happened just like in Libya and Lebanon will happen and you will never be able to establish a Government.
That will bring the country further down. That cannot happen. If anyone wants to challenge this, they must form a political party and contest the next election hopefully. So, if the people want to elect them, it is up to them. Democracy means universal franchise. If you can’t convince the majority of the people, that is not a part of democracy. Just because some 2000 people get together and try to drive the leaders out, that cannot happen in every three months. That is very dangerous. Ideally, this should be the first and the last occasion that the people threw out the leadership. That doesn’t mean there was no reason but that is not a good precedent to create. The people’s mandate could only be changed at an election. We must get back to that normal course of action.
Q: When looking at the Galle Face protest (Aragalaya), it removed a President who was elected by a vast majority of 6.9 million people at the last Presidential Election and paved the way to elect yet another President who has just one parliamentary seat. Some may raise questions on what was the ultimate objective of those Aragalaya people. Could you elaborate your views?
A: I wouldn’t say so. I think 99 percent of the people had acceptable reasons to protest. When you are waiting three days in a fuel queue, and if you don’t have electricity for three-four hours when you return home, and you are not in a position to send money to your child who has gone to a foreign country for his higher studies naturally you may agitate. I think that era has gone now. What we are saying is whatever happened in the recent past cannot happen every three months. You must allow a reasonable period of time for the new Government to prove themselves.
Q: The Bar Association has raised concern on the declaration of emergency regulations and they alleged that emergency regulations are used to suppress the opposition views and prevent public protests. Would you like to comment?
A: I think in terms of the Constitution, the people have the right to protest and dissent. That is there. But they don’t have the right to barge into somebody else’s property. That becomes an unlawful attempt and mob violence.
The Bar Association stood for the right to protest but they didn’t stand up and speak when the protesters were breaking the law and barging into somebody else’s property by unlawful entry.
So, there has to be a balance between these two. Otherwise, no one will be able to govern this country. They should understand that. We can’t take the country into anarchy. Similarly, no Government can prevent dissent. So, peaceful protests are accepted but it has to be peaceful and remain peaceful. You can’t start it peacefully and then unlawfully enter into somebody else’s property and forcefully occupy the places and even prevent the Chief Executive of the country from doing his job.
Q: Do you believe an All-Party Government to be formed under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe would be able to provide lasting solutions to the issues faced by the people?
A: The challenges are enormous. If we are saying one or two people can fulfill this job, I don’t think so. Do we have a choice? The best of the brains in the country must come together and forget about their politics and give us a reasonable chance.
Q: Some have stressed the need for going back to the 19th Amendment. What is the position with regard to the introduction of a new Constitution?
A: President Wickremesinghe has very clearly said that the 19th Amendment will be brought back with full force. Thereafter, the Cabinet must take a decision on that and finish that off.
That means you share the power between the President, Parliament and the independent commissions. If that is the requirement right now and that is what the people are asking for and the President has promised, I think that should be addressed.
Q: Even President Ranil Wickremesinghe while addressing the Parliament on Wednesday said that all parties irrespective of their political differences should get together to resolve the current crisis. Are you confident that all parties would extend their support to get rid from the current issues?
A: If you remember, I have been telling this for a long period of time particularly when I was the Finance Minister. Everybody must get together. We should forget about politics for some period of time and have a clear plan on how to get out of this economic crisis, lay the foundation for recovery, look after the real issues of the public particularly the safety net for the real poor on the ground and carry out constitutional reforms.
This is an opportunity for us to join hands. So, all of us should work together as a united Parliament with an All-Party Government, that is the best way forward. I hope we will be able to do that.