‘I’m ready for the suicidal mission’

27 January 2014 08:59 pm Views - 4128

Actor and film director turned UNP parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake recently made a bold statement, offering to contest as chief ministerial candidate at the Western Provincial Council elections, an act many political analysts believe would be a ‘politically suicidal move’ for a member of parliament. He spoke to the Daily Mirror about his decision and expressed his views about the present political situation in the county.
 

Q: What made you volunteer to contest as UNP chief ministerial candidate at the forthcoming Western Provincial Council elections, knowing that if you do so, you would be giving up your seat in parliament?
Well, I want to do what is best for my party. I have seen similar crises in the past too. There had been instances in the past too where the UNP had some difficulty in nominating a suitable chief ministerial candidate at the last minute. I took a similar challenge at the Sabaragumuwa Provincial Council elections.

Several seniors in the party such as Dr. Harsha de Silva, Ms. Rosy Senanayake have refused chief ministerial candidacy for various reasons. As for me, I know I will be giving up my seat in parliament and the perks that come with it, but I am fine with that, as long as I can serve the party.

The Leadership Council has told me that they are happy with my decision. They are confident that I will be able to get the votes, especially those of the youth. Other seniors in the party have also approached me and told me that I am the best candidate for the position and their number one choice to fulfil the role.

So I have agreed to the politically suicidal mission. Yes, it means that I will be giving up my privileges but that is not important for me. I don’t have a wife and children to care for. I only want to help my party to the best of my capabilities. So I am ready to rise up to the challenge and if I am successful I will lead my party to victory at the WPC elections.

I am now waiting for my party to finalise its decision.

Q: If you contest as CM candidate, what is your plan to lead your party to victory at the WPC elections?
I will lead my party to victory with the principles of good governance. The provincial councils have been ruined by drug dealers, ransom-demanding criminals and bribe-taking, corrupt politicians. Development projects that can be completed for half the cost are being completed at very high costs due to bribes and corruption that exist in the system. The healthcare system is in ruins. The provincial councillors who didn’t even own a bicycle when they contested are now driving luxury vehicles with all the black money they have earned.

"The LTTE was one of the richest terrorist orgsnisations in the world. What really happened to the wealth and the assets they had robbed from the innocent people of this country? Were these assets confiscated? If so, why weren’t they returned to the rightful owners?"

 

Ironically, there are bribery allegations charged against the Bribery Commissioner himself. The Prime Minister of the country is facing allegations for dealing with those suspected for smuggling drugs into the country. If it was any of us, we would be in jail by now. If this happened in another country, the person would take the responsibility and resign. However, in Sri Lanka that has not happened. And the government is keeping quiet about it all. They commit the crimes and they boast about exposing the crimes. If 100 crimes are committed, only one is exposed.

Someone needs to put an end to this circus. We need to bring back the rule of law. I will see to it that the common people of this country get back the money they have been robbed of. My intention is to put an end to the corruption and bribery which is rampant in every nook and corner and utilise the provincial council funds the way they should be used – for the betterment of the people and to improve their living conditions and for social progress.

Q:With the internal conflicts in the party, do you believe that the UNP can win the elections?

I admit that there are problems in the UNP but there are even bigger problems in the UPFA. Even the seniors and those who hold high ranks in the UPFA are facing death threats. They are even afraid to answer the telephone. The situation in the UPFA is very grave. The problems in UNP seem very minor by comparison.

We do have some conflicts but we are in the process of solving them and we will march forward. The present government cannot rule forever. Everything comes to an end and it only takes a moment for tables to turn. So I warn the government not to jump too high because the higher the jump, the greater the fall. And their fall is very near and inevitable.

Q:There is a trend of young actors and especially actresses and other popular figures joining the political fray. In your view, do you think it is a wise decision to allow them to join politics?

I am an actor myself and I cannot let down those in the same field as me. I personally believe that politics is not just for doctors and engineers. The political arena should be open for anyone who cares about other humans.
Even in more developed nations, actors and actresses have entered politics and, in fact, some of them emerged to be great political figures. So there is a possibility that a great political characters might be born out of one or more of these newcomers as well.

However, the reason people are questioning it is because the actresses who have entered politics have not done a service to the people of the country. Upeksha Swarnamali contested under the UNP ticket and shortly after, she crossed over to the government. Anarkali Akarsha has not done a satisfactory job either. Geetha Kumarasinghe also came from a controversial background. Therefore, people have lost their confidence in actors and actresses and their political intentions.
However, I must make a point here that most of the actors who have joined the political fray have managed to save their skin and keep up their reputation. For example, Vijaya Kumaratunga was one of the greatest politicians in our country. Also actors like Gamini Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya, Jeevan Kumaratunga have done a service to the country. Even President Mahinda Rajapaksa was an actor himself. Their political presence has thus been justified.

I am not putting down the actresses but that is the trend we have seen after Upeksha Swarnamali’s political stunts. Therefore, it is better if everyone who enters politics come well-informed and with a good political knowledge. Also it is up to the individual, whether they are male or female, and no matter their profession, to work hard, to dedicate themselves to their cause and do a service to the people of the country.
We never know, there is a chance – no matter how slim it may be – that a great female leader might emerge from these newcomers. Only time will tell so we have to wait and see without passing judgment.

Q:Sri Lanka is facing grave allegations from the international community with regard to human rights violations. The pressure is mounting as the Geneva Human Rights Council is drawing closer. What is your stance about this and how should the situation be handled?

I will tell you my personal views. I must say that these do not necessarily represent the views of my party.
First of all, how did this Geneva problem start? It was Mahinda Rajapaksa and Vasudeva who went in front of the Geneva Council and made these allegations of human rights violations in the ’80s. Now those complaints have boomeranged on him.
Secondly, my personal opinion is that war crimes did happen in Sri Lanka. A group of monks were brutally killed in Aranthalawa. That is a war crime. No investigation has been conducted about this incident and the perpetrators of the crime are not in jail. Instead the main man responsible for this crime has become a close ally of Mahinda Rajapaksa and has also been given a ministerial position, vehicles and the highest possible security.

The arrest and the imprisonment of General Sarath Fonseka was a crime. There was an attempt to assassinate Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa near the Pittala Junction. That was a crime too. No proper investigations were conducted into these crimes.  There were also assassinations that were carried out behind the guise of the LTTE. We have not found out who was behind them or what the reasons were for them.
The LTTE was one of the richest terrorist organisations in the world. What really happened to the wealth and assets that they had robbed from the innocent people of this country? Were they confiscated? If so, why weren’t they returned to their rightful owners? These questions need answers. Then there were those who earned money from the war through black market weapon deals, drug deals, human smuggling and so on. Those who are responsible for those crimes are still walking freely. Instead of being thrown in jail, they are thriving.

On the other hand, Justice should be done for the families that faced destruction as a result of the war. Therefore, I believe that an independent, transparent international investigation should be carried out.
If they have not committed any crimes, as they claim, why should they be afraid of an investigation?