* Unity and reconciliation vital
* Sri Lanka needs global support
* EP Tourism sector being developed
* More connectivity options to EP
In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Eastern Province (EP) Governor Senthil Thondaman outlines his vision to develop sectors such as education and tourism in the province, while achieving reconciliation among all communities. He said that 2024 will be a much better year for the economy than crisis-hit 2022 and 2023 and that Sri Lanka will emerge stronger with global support.
Excerpts from the interview
Q: You are the first Tamil Governor of the EP. How do you feel about that?
A: I am doing my duties and responsibilities without any bias to anyone regardless of religion and ethnicity. The post of Provincial Governor is not for a particular community. The office of the Governor is a place where anyone can come and solve their issues.
Q: What is your comment on the task of rebuilding the country?
A: Rebuilding a country like Sri Lanka after a huge economic crisis is a very difficult task.
The people owe a debt of gratitude to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took charge of our country when it had fallen into an abyss and dedicated himself fully to rebuilding this country.
I give my fullest support for rebuilding Sri Lanka. I believe that bringing investments to develop all the sectors like education, health, fishing, agriculture, industry, trade and commerce, technology, tourism and transport will support to rebuild Sri Lanka and generate income to the national economy.
Q: Will your recent overseas visits bring investments to Sri Lanka?
A: I believe that Sri Lanka needs international support or development. The EP needs to attract investments and support to develop the country’s economy with the support of the International community.
We visited some countries for bilateral discussions on investment in the EP. I also thank the Government of India for its commitment to develop the EP. As there was a war in this country a lot of opportunities are still untapped in the EP. Now we are trying to tap those opportunities and create revenue for this country.
Q: What are the steps being taken by you to achieve national reconciliation?
A: In our Province Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and Burghers live together. National reconciliation is the way forward. I have established an efficient and effective administrative structure in this province for all the communities to build unity.
Q: What about the present situation of social harmony and ethnic issues in the EP?
A: My prime duty is to treat and care for all communities who live in the EP equally. There are many issues that may arise from time to time between the different communities. There are some people who want to disturb social and religious harmony. Such ethnic issues are being resolved in an amicable manner.
Q: What about the tourism sector of EP? Is it being gradually developed?
A: The tourism sector of the EP is being gradually promoted and developed. I did a study and found some strategies to promote tourism in the EP. As the international airport is in Colombo and all the tourists land in Colombo for a short 3 or 4 days tour, they usually do not want to travel one full day to the EP and again another day to go back to Colombo.
They feel that travelling to this province takes a lot of time. Therefore, most of the foreign tourists go down South because it is easier to travel there. So most of them do not want to visit the EP.
I have talked to Ports and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva on having more domestic flights to the East. Then tourists will be able to visit the EP in just half an hour from Colombo. I also met Indian airline officials in New Delhi and discussed with them whether they can start international flights to Trincomalee and Batticaloa just like how they are flying into Jaffna.
Apart from that I have spoken to Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena and sought his support to have more railway services to the East. He has requested India for 23 engines. He assured me that once the railway engines come to Sri Lanka, he will definitely allocate at least two engines for the EP to have more frequent services. We have started cruise services to develop the tourism sector in the EP. So we are upgrading sea, air and railway connectivity and generating more opportunities for travellers to come here.
Q: How do you manage the post of President of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and the post of EP Governor? Do you feel any difficulties in holding these two top positions at the same time?
A: I don’t feel there are difficulties. The CWC is a major political party cum trade union. With the advanced technologies and communication devices, we are able to communicate with the relevant parties and authorities within a short time and we are able to make quick decisions whatever is required.
If required, I personally visit the sites and address the issues. Therefore, handling the duties and responsibilities as a Governor and the President of the CWC is smoothly managed.
Q: What post has more power to serve the people and country, being a Provincial Council Member, Parliamentarian, Minister or Governor?
A: Serving the people, depends on the positions you are handling and the subjects. For certain things, being an MP is better but for other things being a PC member is better. In any case, all these bodies take collective decisions.
The role you play in that process is very important, regardless of whether you are a MP, PC Member or Governor.
Q: What are your plans to develop education in the EP?
A: Education plays an important role in all sectors.
I have given targets to the Zonal Directors of Education and Provincial Directors to study on how to improve education in the province. I have asked them to design a mechanism to support the zones which are not performing well in education activities and public examinations. They will submit a report and I will take corrective steps based on that.
Q: What is your message to the people as the EP Governor?
A: We have plans to develop this province and we have 15,000 women headed families. We are very keen on upgrading the life of those women headed families. President Wickremesinghe is also very keen to make sure this country comes out of the crisis as early as possible.
He is very keen on the eradication of poverty from Sri Lanka.
He wants all vulnerable families to be supported to the maximum and we are doing our best to support all of them.
We are certain that this New Year will be better than 2022 and 2023 under the astute leadership of President Wickremesinghe.
We have to support the President’s untiring efforts to establish a stronger economy. It is our responsibility to support his decisions taken on behalf of the people of this country to move forward and create a path for the future generations.
