Puttalam District Executive Committee Member of the National People’s Power (NPP) and its Chief Organiser of the Chilaw electorate Ajith Gihan Fernando in an interview with the Sunday Observer outlined his views on the party’s Presidential Election triumph and the NPP’s readiness to face the upcoming general election.
He said that the recently concluded Presidential Election has brought about the beginning of a socio-economic and political renaissance and paved the way for a new era of peace and reconciliation among the diverse communities in the country.
With the Parliamentary Election around the corner and the country led by the smallest Cabinet ever gradually reviving as a result of the few progressive, people -friendly decisions taken by the President, he is optimistic that there is a prospect of the NPP obtaining a massive mandate – a two thirds majority in Parliament. He is also convinced that the people who did not vote for the NPP will rally round the President this time on the understanding that the rulers who governed the country in the past often lived in clover at the expense of the taxpayers in the country and did precious little to upgrade the living standard of the people.
Excerpts of the interview
Q: The NPP obtained only three percent of the total polled votes at the Presidential Election in 2019 and this time your party achieved an unprecedented victory. Was it because the voters were impressed by the policies of the NPP or because they had had enough of the 76-year-rule of successive Governments that the NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was able to become President?
A: It happened because of both factors. We all know that this country was ruined by power hungry, money-conscious politicians who feathered their own nests irrespective of what happened to the country. People had been disgruntled about the manner in which the country was ruled by past leaders for years. People had an aversion to the entire political system based on waste, corruption, nepotism, hooliganism, the culture of impunity and lack of rule of law. In the past men of wealth became paupers because of politics but today paupers have become men who had money to burn thanks to politics. People experienced this corrupt system of governance first and knew for sure whom to turn to for change.
On the other hand, we set an example to the whole country by doing politics in a disciplined manner and had a strategic plan of work and a clear vision to impress on the people who began to repose their faith in us because of our discilined behaviour in active politics. We did not misappropriate people’s wealth. We never had recourse to violence either. That is why we were able to attract the largest segment of floating voters and new youth. All in all, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, deserved to be elected President. It is for the first time in the political arena that the country’s power shifted from the elitist social stratum to the proletariat. Being sick of dirty politics in the country, the people badly needed this progressive move, more than ever before.
Q: When put together, the number of votes received by other parties is more than the number of votes received by the NPP at the Presidential Election. When taking into account this fact, don’t you think that obtaining a clear mandate or a two-thirds majority for that matter is not so easy as it looks?
A: I am not in the least worried about it. There are many reasons for that. In the run up to the Presidential Election, our political opponents spread many baseless rumours. They said that if the NPP comes to power, Buddhism will be deprived of its due recognition enshrined in the Constitution, the Kandy Esala procession of the temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic will be stopped, businessmen’s property will be confiscated and people will be tortured and killed. It was said that there are no experts or intellectuals in the NPP to run the country and that Anura Kumara Dissanayake has no international recognition. After the election those diabolical lies were proved to be false.
It was crystal clear that there was no post-election violence. The country was more peaceful than ever before. Nothing they said came to pass. The Stock Market improved and the rupee strengthened. Congratulations and praises from world leaders and Ambassadors streamed in. Foreign reserves have also increased, foreign remittances are flowing into the country, and the number of tourist arrivals is surging daily. Above all, considering the short period of time by since Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed duties as the President, he along with his small Cabinet of Ministers had taken many progressive decisions and steps to restore the country that was turned upside down. Taking into consideration all these facts, thousands of people who did not vote for the NPP are now joining us. Many people are now regretting that they did not vote for the NPP at the Presidential Election. Now that the regime they had hoped for and dreamt of has dawned, they are keen to support us at the upcoming general election.
The country’s economy has stabilised and a fertiliser subsidy is being given to farmers and a fuel subsidy for fishermen. The criminal investigations which had stalled have resumed. Those who failed to pay the VAT to the Government are being penalised. As we promised in our election manifesto, the country is moving forward under the theme “A beautiful country, a beautiful tomorrow”. So, there is absolutely no reason why we should be of two minds about the prospect of obtaining a clear mandate at the upcoming general election.
Q: It is common knowledge that in the past almost all political parties gave nominations to thugs, criminals, illiterate people and anti-social elements. Considering the country as a whole and the Puttalam district you represent, what can you say about your party’s candidate lists?
A: Well, you are aware of the fact that parliamentary decorum is at a very low ebb. We saw MPs fighting in Parliament, throwing chillie powder at MPs, breaking microphones and throwing chairs. People are sick and tired of this repulsive political culture. Those who were engaged in underhand, shady dealings, illegal sand miners, illegal loggers, bootleggers were those who contested elections.
This time too, we have selected honest, educated, and disciplined people who put the country before self .There is also a visually- impaired candidate in our national list. As far as I am concerned, it is for the first time that such a thing has happened in Sri Lanka.
As regards the Puttalam District, we have Prof. Chandana Abeyratne as the District Leader. Our list also comprises a doctor, a lawyer, a senior geologist and an engineer. They are exemplary characters. We also have a Muslim candidate to represent that ethnic community as well as a female candidate. Voters can bank on them since they are ready to render a selfless service. They have been imbued with high ideals and good morals based on our party’s code of conduct.
Q: Earlier, the NPP had about 400,000 votes and three parliamentary seats, so your party could control and lead that group in a disciplined framework.
But with your party’s vote base swelling as you say, do you think that those who are not your die-hard members can abide by your party’s code of conduct and is there any mechanism in your party to guide these people on the right path? Will those who commit crimes or do illegal things be mollycoddled or expelled?
A: We have a well-organised political party where discipline takes precedence. If someone commits a crime or deviates from our party’s principles and code of conduct, our party leaders will most probably, take measures against them, however, highly placed they may be. We have shown this, by example. In 2008, a Kegalle district MP of our party was made to resign on a decision of the Party’s Central Committee after he was accused of an alleged involvement in the trafficking of a person to Japan.
Our party has a system of leadership from top to bottom. There is a National Executive Council, a District Executive Council, a Constituency Council and Division Councils established for each Grama Niladhari Division. When the President said not to light firecrackers to celebrate the Presidential Election victory, that message was immediately communicated to the Division Council and all complied. That is the discipline of our party. Everyone must obey their higher leadership. Unlike other political parties, anti-social elements or criminals won’t be welcomed by the NPP and perpetrators will never be mollycoddled. Whoever joins the NPP has to abide by the party’s code of conduct and act accordingly. A member of a Local Government body cannot work according to his or her own whims and fancies but has to listen to his or her Division Council.
Q: You hold key positions in several farmers’ organisations, fishermen’s organisations and environmental organisations in the Puttalam District. According to your experience and observations, what do you think are the problems faced by the public in your district? Has the NPP drawn up plans to solve them?
A: The Puttalam District is home to a large community of fishermen. They have many problems and have been unable to carry out their work due to the increase in fuel costs. We have already begun to give them a fuel subsidy. Sea erosion in the coastal belt is another serious problem that still remains unresolved.
Irregular shrimp farming has to be regularised and promoted as it is an industry which is a potential foreign exchange earner in the country. The environmental damage must also be looked into. The inland fishing industry is also operating in this district and their grievances have also been identified and facilities and solutions to their problems will be given in due course.
This is a district with many environmental problems too. Unauthorised sand mining, illegal felling of trees, illegal dumping of waste into the environment are some of them. One of the six Ramsar wetlands in the country is situated in our district – Anawilundawa bird sanctuary or wetland. It must be protected as in the past there was an attempt by some politicians to encroach on some parts of it without permission.
We have identified paddy farmers’ issues and their grievances. Flooding is another serious problem that needs to be addressed as a priority. In addition to the national plans, our expert committees have also prepared a district plan to find lasting solutions to all these problems.
