* People won’t vote just because they move back and forth from one party to another:
* Rajitha hasn’t been involved in party activities for quite some time:
* It’s very clear that Sajith Premadasa will secure 51 percent in the first round itself:
Q: Recently, the nominations for the Presidential Election were submitted. Currently, there’s a significant election heat. Do you believe that the SJB can win the election?
A. Our election campaign has been ongoing for a year and a half. The Leader of the Opposition has travelled to all parts of the country and carried out our party’s promotional activities. Our victory is certain. We believe that we can achieve a resounding victory in the first round itself.
Q: Is it possible to defeat the current Government and win the Presidential race?
A. It’s absolutely possible. All the international and local surveys conducted so far clearly indicate that the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa will achieve a clear victory in this Presidential race.
Q: However, a prominent figure from the SJB is now ready to join the Government and support the President
A. To tell the truth, Rajitha hasn’t been involved in party activities for quite some time. He has distanced himself from party work for the past year and a half. We don’t know the reason for that. But the other day, there were around thirty-thousand people at the meeting in Kalutara, Agalawatta.
This election is not based on individuals. The whole country is asking for change. The people are waiting for that change to happen. No Government has ever bankrupted the country to this extent since 1948. Every Government that lost an election left enough money for the next Government to continue working.
Even when the good governance Government left, we had saved US$7,800 million. This Government reduced it to zero within a year. They started paying debts using reserves. Now, the group that bankrupted the country is switching sides. We are the only united party left. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is split into three. The Pohottuwa (SLPP) is divided into three or four. Leftist parties are split.
Q: Are you saying that the people’s decision remains unchanged despite representatives switching sides?
A. Those who are switching sides are the very ones who bankrupted the Government. Those who were in the Government and Pohottuwa are now aligning with each other. Just because they switched sides doesn’t mean people will vote with them. The main advantage here lies with us.
Q: Are you saying that your party is the frontrunner in the election?
A. Absolutely yes. The surveys have confirmed this. Last week, a local English Language independent newspaper showed that Sajith Premadasa would secure 43 percent, except in the North and East. That was an international survey.
Q: Many people are saying that this time a second-round count will be necessary
A. No. It’s very clear that Sajith Premadasa will secure 51 percent in the first round itself.
Q: In the recent past, the majority from which 6.9 million votes were obtained have joined the current President . Doesn’t that mean he could still win?
A. It’s clear that Pohottuwa MPs have joined him. But there’s a question of whether Pohottuwa voters have followed suit.
Q: There have been similar alliances in the SJB as well. Doesn’t this reality apply to your party too?
A. Most of those who joined us were already with us. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Tamil parties in the Uva Province, Rauff Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, and Mano Ganesan’s parties have been with the Samagi Jana Bala Sandanaya since the last election. This time, various groups have joined the coalition that we formed for the last election.
Q: Does your party have a different plan to revive the economy than the one put forth by the current President?
A. The President hasn’t paid off a single cent of debt since he took power. By May 2022, the debt had increased from US$ 94 billion to US$ 100 billion. Not a single old debt has been paid. In these two and a half years, no loan has been obtained to develop agriculture, industry, or jobs to uplift the country. Because no debts are being paid, it seems like there is no burden. The problems will arise when they start paying the debts.
Q: If your party comes to power, how will you face the challenge of repaying these debts?
A. We have already said that if we come to power, we will restart negotiations with the IMF. They have acknowledged that we have the right to do so. This Government has placed the entire burden of debt repayment on the Consolidated Fund. They have exempted large companies. But we will renegotiate and distribute the burden across all financial institutions and companies. Then we can negotiate to reduce the prices of essential goods for the people.
Q: The SJB is facing accusations of being ready to change international conditions
A. IMF officials have met us. They said that the incoming Government has the authority to renegotiate these agreements and that they would allow it. The notion that we can’t change even a comma or a period is an absolute lie. We are asking for a mandate to make changes. It’s important to remember that they never said how revenue should be generated to pay off this burden. They only mentioned that a country must generate this much revenue. This Government placed the entire burden on the Consolidated Fund.
Q: MP Rajitha recently said that he cannot be a part of a plan that ruins the country and one cannot overcome those sins. Is this accusation also relevant to the above point?
A. Rajitha and I are good friends. I don’t expect to criticise him. He chose his path. I can’t oppose that. Patali joined us. His joining is a good thing. No one asked him to leave either. He was in a different place for a while. Now he’s fully with us.
Q: The Government has significantly reduced water, electricity tariffs, and fuel prices and has fulfilled a large part of the people’s needs. Does this increase the Government’s popularity?
A. We have no objection to reducing prices. But who bankrupted the country? Who caused so much suffering to the people? It was this Government. The President cannot govern the country with this same set of people. They are the ones who destroyed the country.
Q: The Government has agreed to provide a Rs. 25,000 allowance in the upcoming budget. If your party comes to power, will this allowance be continued as it is?
A. These are election promises targeting the polls. They are promising things they cannot fulfill.
Q: It is said that the only challenge to the Pohottuwa is the SJB. Doesn’t your party have any challenges?
A. They are not a challenge to us. In no country has power ever been given to independent groups. It has always been given to a party. UNP MPs, Pohottuwa MPs have become independent. What are their policies? The people do not know anything about their vision for the future. No one gives power to independent groups. They are the parties that bankrupted the country. The people give power to a party with a clear vision. The Jathika Jana Balawegaya has also advanced compared to before.
Q: How has the division within the Pohottuwa affected the opposition?
A. The Pohottuwa is the one that bankrupted the country. They became independent because they couldn’t go to the villages as Pohottuwa. There is massive hatred against them in the villages.
Q: People say that no matter who governs or comes to power, it doesn’t make any difference to the people
A. There is such a group that thinks so. Those are the opinions of cynics. There were such people before too. But the majority believes in the parliamentary system.
Q: If Sajith Premadasa comes to power, will he dissolve Parliament?
A. Absolutely yes
Translated by Dinuli Francisco
