Q: You made an unexpected decision in the heat of the Presidential election?
Although the decision was made yesterday, I made up my mind about six months ago. When our incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe was rebuilding the economy and when the international community praised him, I put aside my criticism and watched what he did. I admired his hard work.
Some people asked me why I was cheering while sitting with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). I will not be a hypocrite; my eyes can see, my ears can hear and my nose works too. They said that I cannot be a hypocrite while the people of this country are getting a break.
If we can’t be happy about that, we are not politicians. I stayed put for about six months. Sometimes I was asked to meet the President. Even so, they were talking about politics, not personal matters. I pointed out flaws sometimes. Also, I had a conversation with our party leader Sajith Premadasa. I clearly relayed my stance. Perhaps I gave a better message to the country about President Ranil Wickremesinghe than members of the ruling party.
Q: According to a poster you put up, people assumed that you are also entering the Presidential race. Why didn’t you announce your candidacy?
I am taking part in the presidential race. But because I already said that I would, there was a big question whether I would also participate. But in the evening, I pointed out who I am for this race.
Q:Currently, there are about 40 candidates in the Presidential race. Why didn’t you run since you are so talented?
In 2014, President Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed me as the general candidate. Even when I suggested Karu Jayasuriya, I was asked: “Rajitha, why don’t you try?” Then I said that I have no money, where is the money to run a country when there is not even enough money to run the district. He said that he will give all the necessary money. Not just that, he said “I will lead the party for you”.
He said he will give this for all the things I have done. But instead, Maithri was brought in assuming that he was a better candidate than me to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa. When Maithri hesitated, I told him that the candidacy that was given to me was given to him. Then he did not say: “Go ahead doctor. I will help”. That’s when I quit. I never took private political decisions. I stand for principles I believe in. Later they took the lead over me. But I made them the political theorists they are today. Even today, the people not only accept me, but they also sent me to Parliament with the highest mandate in my district.
Q:“Rajitha’s Decision” is what they are calling the latest agreement between you and the President. Care to elaborate?
The first is creating a corruption-free society after we win. The second is a society with minimum unemployment. The third is equal rights for all ethnicities who accept national unity and territorial integrity. The fourth is creating a healthy and well-nourished generation and providing health, nutrition and education to all.
Q:Even now, you should be promoting better healthcare right?
Everyone knows how I built the health sector. The whole world praised what was done in five years. But today this is all naught. This economy has fallen into an even worse precipice. Healthcare was built better than the economy was back then. I was praised by the World Health Organization, Bill Gates, the wife of late Nelson Mandela, the World Bank and UNICEF.
The World Bank lauded Sri Lanka and gave 200 million dollars to my program. Also in 2019, the World Bank admitted for the first time that a country’s economy grows when the education and health sectors are improved. That is why the IMF has not placed any restrictions on education or health. I became the Deputy President of the WHO and the 70th anniversary of the WHO was also held in Sri Lanka.
Q:If healthcare was broken, why didn’t you join the Government and contribute to the task of rebuilding it?
I told Sajith that we should remedy the situation and then move ahead with our desired politics. Wickremesinghe and I debated several times. It could not be done because of the Rajapaksas and Pohottuwa. We made a decision not to sit in this corrupt Cabinet. But the suggestion that came to the President every day from the Rajapaksa was to put the list of corrupt people in the Cabinet knowing that we are coming.
I commend the President for not appointing any of them to Cabinet. He fought a single battle. Now the Rajapaksas are gone. The President-elect was accused of protecting the Rajapaksas. The Supreme Court ruled that the Rajapaksas are economic hitmen. So there was no reason to protect them. The President did not fulfil the conditions required by the Rajapaksas. The Rajapaksas have no clue that there is a new political culture after the Aragalaya.
Q: Does this mean that your arrival was hastened by the departure of the Rajapaksas? Is the fission in the flower bud a telling sign?
It became easier for us after the Rajapaksas left. The second thing is the corrupt people here. This is why we need a General Election where they can be defeated.
Q:You said several times that you would join the Government, but the reason for not joining is owing to the Rajapaksas?
There is no way we will join. If we do, the corrupt will too.
Q:Wasn’t there any pressure from the party leadership against your arrival?
I have never been trapped by party leaders. I will never submit to party leaders. The only person I have submitted is President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Today, there are leaders far junior to me.
Q:Are you not disappointed that it was delayed a decision for the country?
I pointed out to the President that I am not greedy for positions. He offered me a presidential candidacy. He said that he will spend all the money and support the party. Even organizations like Citizen Power would be very happy if I ran for President. Even monthly meetings were held at my house. But I did that out of charity and I brought someone else.
Now I can say that it was wrong. But that’s what was done to win that day. He tangled with Mahinda. I was told it was like banging my head against a wall. The second is to bring a lack of confidence when the current President was the Prime Minister. Maithripala Sirisena was behind that motion of no confidence.
A large part of Sri Lanka, UNP, went to it. I backed Wickremesinghe 100 percent. Moreover, I told them not to be afraid, the first discussion was held at my house. The President and Wickremesinghe were invited to dinner. At that time, when the President was standing, I came wearing a sarong. After sitting down, I told them to talk if they have any problems. But it didn’t go well. In the end, he came up with a solution to make me Prime Minister. I said that I will not take it even for life. I don’t want to stab the leader in the back.
The people of Sri Lanka invited me with love and said that I would be President one day. I went with John Amaratunga that day. In front of John, Maithri told me, “Not even my brothers have helped me, doctor, you are my true brother. What can’t you and I do? So join me”. I said that we both can build the country, but this way is wrong.
I did not use every position given to me as an ornament nor as a weapon. We got along no matter what our positions were. Although I was a doctor, I behaved like a comrade in politics. I don’t care if I’m big or small. The same goes for the common man. Politics in this country happens in the grassroots. We should talk there. I told President Maithripala Sirisena that day that no matter what the play was, I will make sure Ranil Wickremesinghe wins. That day he won and first shook hands and thanked me saying “Thank you very much Rajitha”.
Q:Wasn’t there any invitation to join the Government as the Minister of Health?
He fought alone while surrounded by Rajapaksas. This frail man had to do a giant’s job. He won, and now the Rajapaksas are over. Pretty soon, the Opposition party will be over too. Mark my words.
I recently said that if they had given me the Health Ministry, the economy would have rebounded. I could have done the job, and then the people would have nothing to blame.
Q:You said you joined unconditionally. Are there really no conditions? At least a ministry..?
I have no personal terms. Till today, not a word has been spoken for me or for Chatura. I have not talked about anything about what I will get, what regions will be given to me, what ministries will be given to me. I have only spoken about my country and the people who appointed me.
Q:The SJB leadership announced that you won’t leave the party and in return you would give a seat to your son Chatura. Were you forced to leave?
It was said that it is not just a national list councillor but it is given among the first three. I always had his affection. They bring me flowers and also for my wife and children’s birthdays. It is always said that you went to jail for me. So Sajith says it will hurt me if you leave me.
He told me directly that the first third of the national list will be given to Chatura. In the end, messages were sent to various people to see what Minister Rajitha was asking for and to come and fight for whatever he asked for. I was told that I did not ask Sarath Fonseka to come. Champika was not told. Why am I talking to you? You are such an important gentleman. I want you’. In the end, he said, I am pleading to stay with me. That day he did not let me open the door of my room. He himself came and opened the door saying I will open it.
I did not take this decision out of spite for him. I came into politics because of the people. I love my parents very much. Even though I am a minister, I worship my mother and go in the morning. My mother teaches me how to be a minister. I’m listening because it’s my mom. In the last year of my father’s hospitalisation, I took a mat on the floor with my father.
Q:You said that it is impossible not to touch the sin of bringing down the country. Are you saying that the country will fall again if Sajith comes to power?
Our economic experts in the country say that if they come, the IMF will change the conditions. Where in the world have such international agreements been revised? Are these people enough to accept the world? Ranil Wickremesinghe has been accepted as an economic expert in the world.
The Secretary in charge of South Asia and Central Asia of the United Nations is proud that he cannot even imagine it. If we go to do these things and the country collapses again, the second rebellion will rise and kill not only our houses but also us. In the end it will be Bangladesh. What will happen if they come to power? Who will live? Whose houses are on fire? Will the job be saved? Will there be food? Can’t even imagine that.
Q:What do you think about winning the Presidential Election?
Ranil Wickremesinghe will become President with the largest percentage in history. My predictions have always been accurate.
Q:How do you see the incumbent President’s economic agenda?
I like it. This is an economic miracle according to the Secretary of the US Senate. We have nothing more to say.
Q:But the SJB says they have a great team of economic experts?
Is there a former minister? Even Kabir became a minister because we formed a Government in 2015. Sajith Premadasa became minister because we came out and formed governments that day. How can people who have never held a ministry lead the Finance Ministry? The Ministry of Finance is very complicated to handle. What experience do they have?
Q:What if the fate of former ministers Manusha and Harin befall you?
They are not big problems. The people made us MPs. These are not estates we inherited from our parents. The people who have voted for me for 30 years will not abandon me. I have not attended a wedding, a small wedding, or funeral. Those people say that we are 100 percent confident that Minister Rajitha will come no matter that is in charge.
Q:Are there any requests from the party to get you back?
Now after making this decision, there is no way. Therefore, the President also received me in a grand manner.
Q:Another stalwart to fill the void of your departure, Patali Champika. Will he join the SJB again?
Yes. Let’s see what happens. It is easy for the President to get me. I did not come with conditions. It is easy to move forward with President Wickremesinghe.
Q:In the recent past, there has been various rumours that many more strong people of the Opposition will join. Who else is coming?
They are currently negotiating. They will join after the presidential campaign starts.
Pix Chinthana Kumarasinghe
Translated by Jonathan Frank
