Interview

"90% of corruption by public officials"

Sports and Youth Affairs Deputy Mnister, Sripathi Sooriyarachchi in an interview with The Sunday Leader explained that the government so far has kept its promises and cushioned the masses from the rising fuel prices, amidst the rapidly escalating global oil prices. As for the peace process, he said that while being mindful of the reasons for the UPFA to receive a mandate at the last general elections, the President and the government are keen to bring about a negotiated settlement, adding that they are looking at a permanent solution to the problem. "There might be a slight delay in starting talks, but we are looking for a permanent solution. The LTTE led by Tamilselvan has gone to Geneva to look at ways to proceed with the talks. The LTTE's ISGA is not in line with the Oslo Declaration. The whole world has accepted it, even the LTTE has accepted it," he said.

Following are excerpts: 

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema 

Q: Given the steep rise in the cost of living and the failure of the government to get the peace talks started, how would you assess the performance of the government so far?

A: The performance of the government should not be looked at on those points. It should be broad based. People expect a lot from a government.

The cost of living is a major problem faced by the people, but we should understand the world oil prices. No government in the world has been able to deal with the problem and it has affected even the developed countries. India has cut down 2% from its growth rate and China too has brought the forecast down.

The Iraq war and cutting production in several oil-producing countries like Russia and Nigeria, have created this problem. With the winter season setting in there will be a further increase in fuel prices as it usually increases during this period. A barrel is now about US$ 54 and is bound to reach US$ 60 soon. When we took over, a barrel was US$ 25. Now it has seen a two fold increase. With the fuel prices going up, it saw an increase in import expenditure as one third of the country's imports are crude oil. As a result, the rupee depreciated and all these have affected imports to the country. Local production was affected due to the drought faced in agricultural zones. All this affected the rise in the cost of living.

All these are beyond the government's control. However, the government is trying its best to bring down the cost of living and as a responsible government, has also taken steps to reduce it while giving subsidies. The government is importing rice and sugar to control prices.

As for the peace process, we must understand the mandate given to us, unlike the UNP. There was a clear message of the people's refusal to accept the UNP's process and we have to adhere to wishes of the people who voted us in to power.

There might be a slight delay in starting talks, but we are looking for a permanent solution. An LTTE delegation led by Tamilselvan has gone to Geneva to look at ways to proceed with the talks. The LTTE's ISGA is not in line with the Oslo Declaration. The whole world has accepted it, even the LTTE has accepted it.

Both the President and the government are for a negotiated settlement and with the formation of the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation, talks would commence soon.

Other than that, the government has so far given jobs to 41,000 graduates, increased the fertiliser subsidy to Rs. 1150 for a 50kg bag, which in turn would provide relief for the poor farmers and has also initiated the 1,000 tank programme and the village development programme, which will be inaugurated on October 22 in Anuradhapura. There's a lot to be done. We have to plan and find the finances. People must understand that we are running with the budget given by the UNP. It is only from January 2005 that the government would be run on the UPFA budget, which will be a very people friendly one.

Q: The UNP has given the government a blank cheque to negotiate with the LTTE on the basis of the ISGA subject to the Oslo Declaration. Why is the government not seizing the opportunity?

A: In the first reply sent by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to the President, he has mentioned the Oslo and Tokyo Declarations. The LTTE did not participate in the Tokyo summit as they felt nothing solid had materialised by then and did not want to participate in the peace talks further. That was in 2003.

The Oslo Declaration talks abut a federal solution that we have already suggested and already our President has submitted a constitution on this basis. Therefore we can negotiate. The problem that lies here  is whether the LTTE's ISGA proposal is based on a federal solution. Even Richard Armitage and Christina Roco have said that the ISGA is not on par with the Oslo Declaration.

Ranil Wickremesinghe can't say he has given a blank cheque to the government; he has given it to the LTTE. If the UNP was really committed to peace negotiations, they should have come to the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconcilaition meeting and should have contributed their ideas. You can't reject a dialogue like that. It is part of the democratic process to discuss and share different ideas and views. Everybody from every ethnic group was there. Even the UNP could have given their ideas. There was a common approach and it is for the country.

Q: There have been reports that the relationship between you and the President is strained and that the President has even questioned Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse whether you have aligned yourself to him. Is there such a strain? If so why?

A: The only line in the party is from the President downwards and I am there with the President. I saw two or three articles that I have been warned about a matter I brought to the President's notice. But actually on that particular day in question, my birthday, I got a very nice birthday wish and a gift from the President. I don't know what the media says. There's nothing of that sort. Our relationship is as it was earlier.

Q: You were a vocal critic of corruption in the UNP when in opposition; don't you see any corruption in the government now?

A: Though we are called Sandhanaya, if you take the SLFP, there are only three back benchers now. Therefore there's a big vacuum. In the government side, the backbenchers have a role in any democratic parliament. That is why we have formed the Deputy Ministers' Association. We question everyone including ministers. So far we have questioned Consumer Affairs Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and next we plan to question Agriculture Minister Anura Dissanayake.

I have criticised and have gone to the Bribery Commission and complained against UNP ministers. Therefore within our government also I would like to see transparency in any transaction and if I find anything not in agreement with my conscience, whether it is from the top or bottom I don't mind, I will go against it and I will expect independence. I have in fact complained to the President about the soya bean matter, which was a colossal loss of money.

Q: It was reported that you had in fact submitted a note to the President alleging a corrupt deal involving Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. Is this correct? And what happened following your allegations to the President?

A: I submitted a very factual complaint with photocopies and documentary proof to the President. The Presidential Secretariat acknowledged it and they have an explanation from the essential food procurement unit.

According to the calculation I had, it was a Rs. 50 million loss to the country.

I must specifically say, it was not against Health Minister Nimal Siripala Silva. I haven't mentioned his name or his ministry, but I have spoken against the particular committee and the officials in it. The Health Ministry had nothing to do with the matter.

They have called for an explanation and I think the procedures have been corrected there.

Q: The Deputy Minister of Industries, Tourism and Investment Promotion and former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga has written to the President and copied letters to several others including you as Deputy Minister of Sports on the decision to send Thilanga Sumathipala to represent Sri Lanka at the ICC meeting in Lahore. Ranatunga has said in the letter that the decision to send Sumathipala was a slur on the image of the government and Sri Lanka Cricket. What do you say?

A: I have received a copy of the letter. My personal view is that the Sports Ministry has nothing to do with sending Sumathipala to Lahore. It is a matter totally handled by Sri Lanka Cricket. They haven't submitted a recommendation and the Ministry has nothing to do with it.

As a lawyer I would say, he has to be treated as an innocent person till found guilty and on that basis, even if it was submitted, the Ministry could not have stopped it.

Q: Did you attend the National Advisory Council Meeting convened by the President and on what capacity did you attend? Do you know that the President called on her secretary to find out how you were present?

A: Yes I did as an invitee. I was given a seat and they have checked with our secretary the previous day to find out whether the minister and I were going to be present. We confirmed and participated.

Q: Would you say there is no corruption in your government?

A: There are a lot of areas and levels that need to be corrected. People blame politicians of being corrupt, but 90% of corruption is by officials in the public sector.

The indication of requirement is initiated by public officials and alsos preparation of specifications, calling and receiving tenders, evaluating them, till it comes to the tender board. Only if it submitted to cabinet the ministers have a say, till then it is handled by public servants.

All things due to the lack of procedures, knowledge, clever people and even a person who is not corrupt would become corrupt under the present system.

This government should look into it and correct the system.

My personal view is to have a tender centre where anyone - journalists and even those whom have submitted tenders - could see the position of the tenders and final tenders should be taken up in front of the tenderers or their representatives. Then there would be no dilly-dallying.

Q: The President last week in a cabinet memorandum has said there was a lack of transparency in how the JVP under Agriculture Minister Anura Dissanayake was carrying out the 10,000 tank project. Would you say in your view it is a questioning of the 10,000 tank project?

A: I haven't seen such a letter, so I can't comment on it. However, everybody is in praise of this project as it is production oriented. If 100 people start new farming projects as a result and earn Rs. 1,000 per annum there would be approximately Rs. 10 billion addition to GDP. That should be understood. I think it is timely and a much needed project.

Q: Agriculture Minister Anura Dissanayake last Sunday referring to the President as Loku Nona had said false allegations were made against the Minister's 1,000 tank project to cover the corrupt acts of her own party men and even referred to a highways project of the Prime Minister. Are they baseless allegations?

A: I have seen articles to that effect, but so far nobody has rejected any such statements. The Agriculture Minister has not denied them and even those against whom the allegations have been levelled have not said anything. Under such circumstances I cannot say anything as I am not directly involved in it.

Q: Minister Dissanayake has also alleged that one of the mill owners was Minister Maithripala Sirisena's brother and another was Deputy Marketing Development Minister Siripala Gamlath, adding that it was the reason for the rice shortage and no one is concerned. Are you concerned?

A: I don't think two individuals can control the price of rice. The prices have gone up due to the drought and the low harvest last season.

Actually, any miller knows that within six months next harvest is going to come and no one is going to stock and wait for the next season. The other is that it is no easy task to stock it.

Therefore I don't think so and it is a baseless allegation if it was made.

Q: When in opposition the UPFA promised to control prices irrespective of world market prices. To what do you attribute your failure to do so?

A: Nobody has said that world market prices would not affect our prices. What we said was that we would look after the poor. That is what we are doing. We are still subsidising fuel, electricity and fertiliser. Therefore, despite the present world market prices, we have continued with subsidies, which we would never have been able to provide if we followed the UNP's formula.

If we followed the UNP formula, then petrol would be Rs. 115 while diesel would be Rs. 85 per litre.

Q: The UPFA also justified the take over of ministries and the toppling of the previous government stating it allowed the LTTE to set up a camp in Manirasakulam, allowing the LTTE to ring Trincomalee with camps and provide helicopter rides to the LTTE. Your government has so far done nothing to change the status quo. What do you have to say?

A: The President's position at that time was that the UNP started talks without taking any precautions and considering the repercussions of the acts and inacts. From day one, the President gave cautious notes to then Prime Minister Ranil Wickrememsinghe and his team. Therefore, the establishing of Manirasakulam or the courts was a two year process.

Now that the UPFA has come to power and just because we made allegations against the previous regime, you cannot change overnight what has been done within a period of two years.

You have to take the whole thing back and correct it.

In 1994 when the PA negotiated, there were clear clauses stating that the LTTE would not be allowed within 500 meters of armed forces camps and not a single movement was allowed in the sea.

But the present MoU has no such clauses. The way the negotiations were going, the LTTE was given enough room to establish all these things. If you now try to remove these things overnight there would be misunderstandings and it could lead to a war.

We are going to restart negotiations and therefore at the negotiating table, we could bring some of these things up. It is difficult to do anything if it is not within the purview of the MOU, but the UNP government didn't do anything at that time. Now we need to discuss these things.

Q: Newly appointed Deputy Minister for Labour and Foreign Employment Services Mervyn Silva has said that he would not accept his salary and the fuel allowances granted for the official vehicles for a period of one year to "support the progressive 'Country First' programme" of the government and said that others should follow the same line. What do you have to say?

A: I'm not going to follow. I start my day at 7 a.m. and work till midnight or most often past that time. As a lawyer, I think I earned more than the salary and the perks I am getting now. Apart from my salary, I am given two vehicles with a fuel allowance.

I feel that if a country wishes to get the best out of a politician, you must look at the way politicians in developed countries are treated and emulate that. It is only then that you could get the best out of a man.

Lots of people speak of the perks and privileges of a politician, but if they were given the task for a week they would realise how hard it is. It is not easy to work day and night. Sometimes not seeing your family for days and having no time to spend time with your children. In countries like ours people expect a lot from politicians. Apart from the work, they have to attend to every wedding, funeral or any other function they invite you to. Sometimes I drive over 100 km a day.

Therefore, if you need a fully committed, good politician, they should be well looked after and there should also be very strict laws to curb corruption and negligence as well to charge them if they do wrong.

My thinking is that for a good politician it is hard to survive on the present salary scheme. The total system should be changed and new laws should be introduced to scrutinise the actions of politicians, but they should be paid adequately.