"People know who I am and what I am capable of"

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti 

Q: Have you asked for a position in the UNP?

A: Never in my life.

Q: In your previous interviews, you often said that if offered the responsibility, you would serve the party to the utmost. Doesn't this denote you would indeed like to hold a position in your party?

A: Having an inclination to hold a position and being offered a position are two totally different things. They also differ from asking or clamouring for a position.

There is absolutely no need for me to write a resume and apply for a position anywhere in the political spectrum in Sri Lanka. I think people in this country have a pretty good knowledge who Sajith Premadasa is and what he is capable of.

If I am invited to hold any position within the party or a UNP-led government, I will heartily agree to do so, because this means serving my motherland through the political party that I identify myself with.

Q: If you are offered a post, do you think you may be able to quell some of the dissent that seems to be prevalent within the UNP?

A: I shall certainly strive to do so. Having said that, I must add that while not having any such position within the party at present, I am trying to do everything within my power to unite our members.

In my own way, I am trying to strengthen our party and to retain and enhance its political base. It is our collective duty to make our party a vibrant and innovative political force that can be assured electoral victories. That will also be a victory for the people of Sri Lanka.

Q: Could you explain as to why there is so much of dissent within the UNP right now?

A: I think there are several issues but if I were to point them out, I would not be doing justice to my political party and in fact, I might end up further aggravating the present situation. Therefore it is best that I reserve my comments, though I would certainly love to answer your question. My silence is in furtherance of party unity.

However, I have raised my voice at the correct fora within the party. I am morally inhibited from explaining myself any further on your question.

Q: However you just said there are issues affecting the party at present. One such issue is that a section of the parliamentary group is no longer willing to accept Ranil Wickremesinghe as leader. Would you agree?

A: Well of course, within the parliamentary group, there is generally a plethora of opinions. That should be so. A lot of people have been expressing divergent opinions.

But I would not venture into explaining any further on this question, as I could not be fair by the party and more so, the party cadres who would not want to see the UNP in turmoil and its problems publicly thrashed out which will eventually impact on the electorate.

I do hope that you do understand why I limit myself, despite being a very forthright person.

But this once, I think I must conduct myself with the party's interest at heart.

I just hope that our party does get back into the right track and will soon give political expression to the silent majority of Sri Lanka, who indeed are, I think would want the UNP to function better and perform a crucial political role.

Q: Are you not guilty of maintaining silence and getting others to further your cause and push you up the political ladder?

A: Never in my political life have I instructed or used others to get them to speak on my behalf. I am sure if they speak well of me and see a career for myself, they do so with the goodness of their hearts and not because of being prodded by me in anyway! I am not that kind of politician in the first place.

Yes I have been silent in recent times. But it is incorrect to say that I have been silent all the time. I have been quite vocal on certain issues, forthright in giving my opinions, all of which I did in furtherance of our party's goals. Time and again, I have submitted proposals too.

This time I thought I needed to speak up and did so. I spoke from my heart as well as my head.  Did so objectively.  I felt that we were on a slippery slope and I saw a Doom's Day scenario for the UNP that needs to be averted. Again, I said all that for the party that we all love.

Q: Why have UNP members chosen this inopportune time to dredge these issues, considering that there is yet another crucial election, the Western Provincial Council poll around the corner?

A:  It is actually a Catch 22 situation. The situation is very crucial. We are facing an election, and an important one at that. We did consider the possibilities of disregarding these issues and/or whether to deal with them promptly. We asked this question from ourselves.

It is a difficult one to answer whether to ignore the various eruptions that continue unabated.  The issues surfaced naturally.

I think the leader of our party, Ranil Wickremesinghe should now demonstrate his character and make the crucial and vital decisions to take our party back to its glory days. It is his responsibility now.

Q: Does this mean that he should step down?

A: I think it is a matter for the party leadership to decide. Many have expressed various views on the matter. The party should decide whether heads must roll, elevated, replaced or step down. 

Our party is a highly centralised and a highly hierarchical party. I also think the necessary constitutional moves to provide the backdrop for correct decision-making should also be considered in this midst. I hope and pray that we will make the right decisions to not just for the party's sake and its membership.

Q: Do you aspire for presidency?

A: I have answered this question a million times. I would give the same old answer, yes.

It would be an honour to serve my country in whatever capacity, be it in the pradeshiya sabhas or at a higher rank. Let the people decide in whichever position they wish to see me perform. If it is in the pradeshiya sabha, so be it. If it is the presidency, so be it.

Q: Do you believe you have the necessary qualifications to become head of state?

A: That is a question that you should pose to the 20 million people of Sri Lanka. They will have an answer to that.

"I  want to bring the UNP back to power"

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Q: Do you feel that the time is right for a change in the party leadership?

A: I would not respond to the question, as it is an internal party issue. Therefore, it would not be proper to speak about it in the open. I believe it is wrong to discuss party issues out in the open.

Q: Haven't you been canvassing for a more controlling position within the UNP?

A: No. I have personally not asked for any position, controlling or otherwise, in the party at this point of time.

Q: What kind of public support do you have in the country?

A: I enjoy a great deal of popularity in the UNP. If you take people representing different social segments, you would see that the Buddhist monks love me; the intellectual as well as the minority communities respect me. The results of the recently concluded Central Provincial Council elections, especially in the Kandy District where I contested are a clear indication of the people's support I have. I polled the highest number of preferential votes at the North Western and Central Provincial Council elections. I came first in the preferential vote count in every electorate. I came first in the postal vote count as well. All this stands testimony to the fact that I do have public support in the country. People have accepted me.

Q: Do you think that you have national leadership qualities or a national support base to stake a claim for eventual party leadership?

A: I think that I have national leadership qualities and a support base. I also believe that I should reach a position of leadership at some time.

Q: You have been accused of building a campaign against the current UNP leadership and even factionalising the party. Do you accept this?

A: When 17 UNPers defected from the party, it was due to the party reforms proposal presented by me. M.H. Mohamad and I prepared a list of 23 proposals aimed at reforming the party. The list was given to the party leadership and was also circulated among the party membership. The 17 UNPers defected as a result of the response received to the proposals.

However, when presenting the proposals I said that even if none of the proposals presented were accepted by the party leadership, I would not leave it. Therefore, I accept that I did play an indirect role in the defection of the 17 UNPers. However, this time around, it is different and I have not played any role in campaigning against the party leadership and factionalising it. Now I express my views within the party framework and keep quiet.

The present issues in the party have been based within the party's parliamentary group. I am not a parliamentarian and do not come within that group, so I have no role in any of the things I am accused of.

Q: What do you have to say to the criticisms that you are actually destroying the UNP and is performing a task for the government which needs a weak opposition to survive?

A: Before commencing my campaign in the Kandy District for the Central Provincial Council elections, there were several surveys done to ascertain the party's position. Three professors attached to the Peradeniya University conducted three surveys. The survey reports indicated that the government was going to receive 65%-70% of the Sinhala votes at the provincial council elections. This amount also contained about 10% of the UNP votes.

However, the survey also revealed that the swing in the votes towards the government was going to be temporary and most probably a one-off scenario that has been brought about by the war in the north. Many  people had expressed a sentiment that there should be an end to the war and therefore, the government should be given the opportunity to bring an end to the long drawn conflict.

Therefore, there was going to be a 7%-8% reduction in the Muslim votes for the UNP while there were a large number of Tamil votes that were to be cast in favour of the party. The three surveys gave a clear picture of what was to be expected at the provincial polls. I entered the fray knowing this scenario.

Apart from the three main surveys there was also another survey conducted which also gave the same details as in the three surveys done by the professors. All these surveys were random surveys conducted in a scientific manner.

I received 30,000-40,000 votes on my own. While the UNP's vote base amounted to about 27%-28% in districts like Kurunegala, Puttalam and Matale at the provincial council elections, it was 38% in the Kandy District. I personally contributed to the party's vote base in the Kandy District. How can I destroy a party that I have worked so hard to bring to such a position?

I made a lot of sacrifices and worked with commitment to ensure the party received more votes in the Kandy District than in the others. I want the party to win. I want to bring the UNP back to power and will do anything to ensure that the party gets there. I joined the party after doing a lot of thinking. I love the party.

I also believe that our supporters have waited long enough to see the UNP come back to power. Therefore, the party has to be brought back to power as soon as possible.