Cabinet will be dissolved immediately after I take oaths as President; the Parliament will also be dissolved. After my victory, I will form a four-member Cabinet and fill the vacant Parliamentary seats in accordance with the Constitution. It is also constitutional to place all subjects under the President and move forward for a short period of time.
Sri Lankans are disgusted with politics and politicians. Politicians are not ready to make sacrifices when the country has fallen into a big precipice. All they do is increase their benefits. The import of vehicles is completely suspended at this time, but it’s just the MPs who are fighting to claim their privileges. How despicable is that?
During a time like this, the people should see that politicians are making some sacrifices. It is for that purpose that we follow these measures. On the other hand, some privileges are not meant to be granted. The MP cannot be above the people. One cannot be privileged over the people.
Q.The Presidential race is hotting up. Who do you think will win?
A. We can win this presidential election. Even now, our campaign is being carried forward solely by the people. We’ve never seen the common people rallying for the victory of a political camp with such vigour in recent history. We have reports of a big win through the postal vote. Considering that, we can win this election. So we can definitely say that we will win.
Q. If you become President, how will you deal with the composition and size of the Cabinet?
A. We propose a maximum number of 25 Cabinet Ministers and a corresponding number of deputy ministers for the Government we will form after the General Election. There are no ministerial posts called State Ministerial posts. Because there is a limit in the Constitution for ministerial posts, these State Ministerial posts have been introduced to circumvent that limit. All other privileges have been given to them except participation in the Cabinet. We will put an end to them.
Q. They say that if you are elected President, Parliament will be dissolved. So what is the action taken regarding the Cabinet? There is a problem with forming a Cabinet, isn’t it?
A. This Cabinet will be dissolved immediately after I am sworn in as President; Parliament will also be dissolved. There are three measures that can be followed in accordance with the Constitution for the interim period of the General Election.
After my victory, I will form a four-member Cabinet and fill the vacant Parliamentary seats in accordance with the Constitution. It is also constitutional to place all subjects under the President and move forward for a short period of time.
Otherwise, a caretaker Government representing other parties can continue until the end of the election. In one of these three cases, there are opportunities to run the country for the interim period.
Q. Currently, there is no allocation for a general election. If Parliament is dissolved, how can money be quickly arranged for a General Election?
A. The question of money allocation related to the election does not arise at all. Even though the Parliament has been dissolved, the President has the powers to allocate funds for the parliamentary elections.
Q. You have said that the system of parliamentary elections will be changed. What kind of electoral system do you hope to bring?
A. A long discussion was held recently to change the parliamentary election system. However, there are some views in the existing parliamentary voting system; even those with little public mandate can share their opinion in Parliament. Likewise, whether we like it or not, there are political movements based on ethnic identity. They also have representation in Parliament under this system.
Therefore, when preparing a new polling system, our basis is to allow those with the will of the people, who hold all opinions, to be fairly represented in the parliament. As I mentioned, who is responsible for the constituency, our opinion is on an election system that fulfil such requirements.
Q. You said that you will get rid of the Executive Presidency. This promise has been given by many presidential candidates before but was not fulfilled after they came into power. Why should we believe in you?
A. We have always been in the position that the Executive Presidential system should be abolished since the day it started. This proposal has also been included in our manifesto. However, the abolition of the office of Executive President is tied to the electoral system.
The Executive Presidential system can be abolished because many parties have agreed to abolish it, but the challenge here is the polling system that is linked to it. Therefore, we will abolish the office of the Executive President as soon as we can come to an agreement on it.
Q. Some say that the entire IMF program will collapse if things signed in the agreement are changed as stated in the National People’s Power (NPP) manifesto?
A. This is the opinion of the President and the Government, not the opinion of the IMF. There are many examples of countries around the world that had modified agreements made with the IMF on many occasions. Also, many of the parametres that have been agreed with the IMF are favourable for a country, but if the path that passes through those parametres puts hardships on the people, then we have to wonder what path can be taken to reduce their suffering is.
Therefore, we will never unilaterally withdraw from the IMF. Likewise, the IMF does not hold the opinion of the Government led by the President. All things related to the international financial institution are created by the Government. In fact, the Government with a mandate will deal with the IMF in the future. The IMF likes to change in shifting circumstances.
Q. Government says that it is impossible to change the terms of the IMF agreement, and five ordinances related to it have been passed in Parliament. What is your opinion?
A. The Government thinks that the knots tied by these people will last forever. You can’t stay in power forever. People have now understood the lies of both sides. There are many examples in the world where ordinances were subject to repeated changes.
Nothing in the world is static. Each condition can be modified according to the circumstances. The people’s mandate is much stronger than the opinion of this President and Government. We say that everyone should pay attention to the mandate. Then you can see what the people are saying around the NPP.
Q. Why did you say that pensions and other privileges given to retired Presidents and MPs will be abolished?
A. We need this kind of action because of the very disgusted view people have about the politician and politics of our country. Politicians are not ready to make any sacrifices on their part when the country has fallen into a big precipice. All they do is increase their benefits.
The import of vehicles is completely suspended at this time, but it’s just the MPs who are fighting to claim their privileges. How despicable is that? Similarly, the fuel allowance for MPs was increased by Rs 100,000. The only parliamentary group who did not take that money was the NPP. We are ready to make continued sacrifices for the people.
Q. Do you mean that politicians should set an example in order to rebuild this country?
A. We are certainly setting examples as politicians to get Sri Lanka out of this crisis. Accordingly, we proposed to abolish the privileges of retired Presidents and MPs. At this time of crisis, people should see that politicians are making some sacrifices. It is for that purpose that we follow these measures. On the other hand, some privileges are not meant to be granted. The MP cannot be above the people. We believe that one cannot be privileged over the people.
Q. You said you will cut 18 percent off the VAT for education, health and essential goods and services. Some say this is impractical. In view of the current crisis, is it really possible to remove this VAT?
A. This can be done. VAT was introduced in 2003. But, it was not implemented for this sector till 2023. President Ranil Wickremesinghe is looking for an accounting solution during the economic crisis. We are not looking for an accounting solution.
While looking for an accounting solution, the people’s standard of living should be improved. The people should be given the essential facilities needed to live. However, this Government including the President has taxed certain sectors such as food, health and education without any concern for the people.
Those unfair taxes must be removed. We believe that those taxes can be removed. See what has happened to professionals today? They are in a very difficult situation.
Q. You say the personal tax exemption limit will be reduced to Rs 200,000. But that means the State will lose a lot of revenue? How can the Government find the rest of the money?
A. What I’m proposing is nothing new. The 2020 tax exemption limit was Rs. 250,000; maximum 24 percent. Last year, Sri Lanka’s total tax revenue, i.e. the tax revenue of the Inland Revenue Department, was 960 billion rupees. Seventy-five percent of this 960 come from between 530, 570 tax files.
It doesn’t matter if the corporate tax, which comes from 75 percent of this income, is a little higher. This tax is hitting the living wage. It is not promising to the professional and they are leaving the country. Professional labour in our country is at 15 percent. We must protect professionals.
But if we do not protect intellectual labour, this country will become a wasteland. Professionals lead a country along a path. Today, there is no savings left after a month of work. We must stop people’s lives from being ruined. I see this taxation as revenge for not voting for them.
Q. What assurance do you give to the people that the NPP’s manifesto of “A Thriving Nation, a Beautiful Life” will become a reality?
A. That question arises because successive Governments have not been able to protect the agreements given in the election manifestos. All those governments from time to time made a series of promises to garner votes. After the election, those promises are broken. What we have presented here is not a simple series of promises. It is the program prepared by the NPP to recover different sectors. We provide subsidised fertiliser and seeds for the agriculture sector as part of a program that goes beyond promises.
Q. Have plans been prepared to implement this series of policies within the next five years according to the respective fields?
A. We have prepared plans to build the country in the respective fields within the next five years with the series of policies we have presented.
According to this plan, successful nation building can be made a reality. This task is the first thing we have to do when we take over the Government. We have a way to build the country and make people’s lives beautiful.
This program presents that path, not just a promise sheet to get votes. What we are doing is following the necessary measures to go on that path. We will certainly accomplish this. The people have built a lot of trust in us. Likewise, all the progressive people’s forces of this country have gathered around us.
Translated by Jonathan Frank
