Best chance for peace is now - Marapona Former Attorney General, Minister of Defence Thilak Marapona, speaking to The Sunday Leader said Sri Lanka has its best chance of achieving peace now and that the LTTE too has realised this. Marapona considered a Mr. Clean of tremendous capability and efficiency said his priority as defence minister was to ensure the safety of Colombo and other vital installations like the port and airport and prevent any surprise attacks.

Following are experts:

By Suranimala

Q: You are having the onerous task of handling the defence ministry. Now you have also being assigned the transport, aviation and highways portfolios. Is it humanly possible to handle all these ministries and give your best?

A: I am happy that I am handling these things when the peace process is going on. With the intended ceasefire negotiations, we are not going to launch any offensive. So it is only a question of looking after the areas that are under control, and making sure that we are secured. I also appreciate the fact that the police department has been taken away from the defence ministry. So much so that so many other civil activity oriented department that are under the defence ministry are also given to the minister of interior affairs. In effect a substantial workload has been reduced.

The defence ministry is now only left with the administration of the army, navy and the airforce. And also ensuring the security of the country. In that way I find that there is time available for other ministries. In any event I don't expect to hold the other ministries like the civil aviation, transport and highways permanently. I think in due course the prime minister will think of appointing some other ministers for these ministries.

Q: What are your priorities as defence minister?

A: Our priorities are now to ensure that we are not subjected to any attack. Especially any unprecedented surprise attack. My task today is to make sure about the safety of Colombo city, and the safety of all vital installations, like the port and the airport. Of course, the areas like Jaffna peninsula and ensure that we don't lose the grip on those areas that are under our control.

Q: There is a cessation of hostilities in place and the LTTE has also released 10 prisoners of war. How confident are you that the cessation of hostilities will hold, given the present status of the peace process?

A: I think we have the best chance of achieving peace now. There is international pressure and I think even the LTTE has realised it, especially after the September 11, bombing and several other countries taking this opportunity not to allowing them to operate in their countries. The other thing is our prime minister has a sincere hope that this would end. We are making an approach in a very professional way in building some sort of trust between the two parties. This is how we are able to show our goodwill. I think the LTTE will also reciprocate in a similar way. So I think we have a very good chance of achieving peace this time.

Q: As defence minister, would you say the security forces are happy with the present arrangements in place for the cessation of hostilities?

A: Well, I have not had any complaints from them so far. I feel the security forces are also very anxious to achieve something. They too feel that the country can't afford to use this much of money for the war. This money could be used very much in the developmental works in the country. And I must say that we have not relaxed any of the security measures we have taken in regard to the holding of our positions. So that there is no apprehension on their part that the government is not taking adequate precautions to ward off a surprise attack. They are quite happy and they are not anxious to be on the offensive.

Q: What is the role played by the security forces in the context of the cessation of hostilities. Are they confined to barracks?

A: They are not confined to barracks. They are doing their normal duty, whatever security arrangements that were there in the areas where they were placed before the cessation of hostilities. They are engaged in doing those activities. The only thing is they don't want to go in to areas that are not under their control. We have clearly instructed them not to mount any type of hostility. We have also told them not to patrol out side their areas because we don't want to contribute to any kind of hostility. The only area where they will be engaged in any type of overt action will be in the seas, where if they find the movement of LTTE members with arms and ammunition, then of course the soldiers are compelled to take action.

Q: In that context it is reported that the LTTE is using the current cessation of hostilities to arm themselves and that arms and ammunitions have already been transported by sea for the LTTE. What information do you have of this development?

A: I know of two instances. One was on December 9, where we got information that they were going to transport some weapons hundred miles away off Mullaithivu. We checked on this information. Unfortunately it was a rainy day. Nevertheless the airforce spotted some boats in the vicinity of that ship but the poor visibility at that time did not give them an opportunity of having positive information that this was the LTTE and that they were transporting weapons. The airforce also did not engage in any confrontation specially because there was a ceasefire and they were not sure as to what they should have done at that time. This was one incident. The second was when the navy intercepted some boats off the eastern coast more towards the south east area. The navy wanted them to turn back. Other than this we have been mounting surveillance.

Q: There were many allegations of corruption with regard to procurement by the armed forces during the tenure of the PA regime. What action have you taken to probe these complaints?

A: Well, I believe there is a special committee appointed by the prime minister, in the economic reforms ministry where they are checking all these procurement that are made. And I believe their mandate also extends to reviewing past procurements and find out how they can improve this. If they find any mistakes in the procurement, I believe they will take appropriate action.

Q: There was a controversy regarding the police rain on a safe house in Athurugiriya operated by the army. Were you as defence minister aware of this existence of this safe house and if not at what stage were you briefed?

A: Actually I was not aware of the existence of this safe house. Nor was I aware of the raid. I came to know about the raid only when it came on TV. And I immediately phoned the army commander and he told me that this was a safe house of the army and he had sent the director of the army intelligence to explain to the raiding party and to the Narehenpita police that was conducting the investigation. But it was a safe house of the army. And I want to add more. This particular safe house had commenced only on December 7, after the general election.

Q: So therefore should you not have as defence minister been informed no sooner you took oaths by the relevant authority, including the army commander?

A: I don't think a safe house is an important thing for the authority to inform the minister about a house where there were intelligence activities being conducted. Only thing it was a house in which the long range patrol has been operative. They used this to house them there, when they were in Colombo. I knew of the existence of the long range patrol. I have been kept informed that there were things like this to collect information and to mount certain operations. This safe house is not a thing that a defence minister need to have been informed of.

Q: But it was established only after the elections?

A: Yes. This particular house had been taken by the army only December 7.

Q: Army commander Lionel Balagalle was accused by the UNF of indulging in political activity during the election including sending troops for Ratwatte's electioneering in Kandy and issuing President Kumaratunga's message during postal voting to the army camps. What action is being contemplated against the commander and has the government taken a decision to retain his services?

A: Well about sending personnel to Kandy for election work, an investigation has already begun and that investigation is being conducted by the CID and not even the Kandy police. We have instructed the CID to go into all the details in the process investigating into this matter, and to find out who was responsible for election violence, who gave them instructions for them to proceed to Kandy, what kind of instructions were given to them and so on. If the investigation reveals that there is any involvement of any person, including the Army Commander Lionel Balagalle I think at that time appropriate action would be taken.

Q: As defence minister would you subscribe to the deproscription of the LTTE and are the security forces supportive of such a move?

A: Firstly, there is no demand by the LTTE to deproscribe them. Secondly, I can't see how the deproscription is going to facilitate the peace talks. We are prepared to talk to the LTTE despite the proscription. I can't see any reason why they should clamour for the deproscription. As for the forces of course I don't know whether they will have a say in this matter because this proscription has no legal importance. When we go to deproscribe the LTTE, we will give the impression that we are prepared to keep the LTTE as a very respectable organisation. So when this issue comes up, we have to take a hard decision by weighing the pros and cons and see what should be done.

Q: The proscription itself, though it is made into a big issue today, was imposed on the LTTE only in 1998, after the Dalada Maligawa incident. Even after the Indian government had imposed a ban on LTTE in early 1990, two governments in Sri Lanka, prior to 1994 and after 1994, did not think it necessary to proscribe LTTE. So should it now become an issue if it is standing in the way to resuming a dialogue with the LTTE?

A: That is why I have always said that this proscription has no legal consequences. Even if proscribed under the emergency regulation, all that happened was a certain type of activity of the LTTE was made illegal. That type of activity was the least offensive type of activity of the LTTE like for example distributing leaflets, taking subscriptions, making speeches in public and so on. Only these things have been made under the ban. This is precisely why when we were engaged in a major offensive against the LTTE, and when the LTTE was also engaged in offensive activity against us, we did not go to proscribe the LTTE, and pass regulations to prevent them from distributing leaflets and so on. But today the proscription is to be synonymous in recognition that the LTTE is an illegal organisation that should not be permitted to exist. This is where the significance comes. When you deproscribe the LTTE, it may create an illusion that you are no longer considering that body to be engaged in illegal activity, engaged in terrorist activity, defensive action etc,.

Q: The UNP in opposition threatened to abrogate the then Airlanka sale of shares and management rights to Emirates going so far as to lodge a complaint with the bribery commission through the then general secretary Gamini Athukorale and which complaint was drafted by you. Furthermore, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as opposition leader wrote to the world bank President who is also the head of MIGA that a future UNP government will not honour commitments made under the a agreement. What is your position now as aviation minister?

A: In the past also we advocated that this agreement is not in the best interests of Sri Lanka. As of today I myself have not changed that view. But of course now we are operating based on that agreement. With our policy of open skies, we are in the process of looking into all these matters.

Q: Would you look at re-negotiating the agreement?

A: If necessary.

Q: With regard to the Colombo-Katunayake expressway too allegations of corruption wee made by the UNP in parliament, especially on commissions paid to President Kumaratunga's friend Ronnie Peiris through his Bahamas based off shore company. What action do you propose taking on this issue?

A: There are two complaints before the bribery commission also. So we presume that proper investigations would be conducted by the bribery department. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, we will take further action.

Q: The police and army appear to be at logger heads in the recent past. First you had the Athurugiriya incident. Now Kandy. Is there a sudden lack of discipline in the forces?

A: I don't think so. These are minor skirmishes. The Athurugiriya incident is due to the police not being adequately informed about the matter. I actually do not blame the police also. But my objection to the Athurugiriya issue is even after the army commander came on the TV, and after he sent his director intelligence, and apprised the police that these weapons were found and despite all those revelations by the army commander, that the police nonetheless pursued the matter further and carried on with their investigation. But with the other skirmish that took place yesterday in Kandy, I must say these are incidents that have happened in the past also. And minor incidents of this nature are bound to happen in the future too. I advised the army to establish a relationship with the police and to ensure there is no recurrence of this nature. In fact the army commander also told me that he has met the IGP and that both have agreed to form a Police-Army team to investigate into this issue. Also the army commander assured me that he will take very stern action against his men. Well, I don't think this would lead to a breakdown of army-police relationship. I don't take it very seriously.

Q: The impeachment of the chief justice and the president were two issues the UNP in opposition were vociferous about. Why the strange silence now?