People’s problems can be solved by engagement with Govt - Douglas

2 January 2015 06:46 pm Views - 2303

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda, in an interview with , said the practical engagement with the present government would be the way to resolve the problems confronting the Tamil people in the North. He charged that the NPC, during its 16-month administration had been unable to deliver enough to the people.
Mr. Devananda, who is the leader of Ealam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), has been a longstanding ally of the government.

QIn your view, why should the Tamil people in the North and East vote for the (United National Freedom Alliance (UPFA) presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa?

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has sought mandates from the people promising to deliver. But it has failed to do so each and every time. The TNA is a political formation comprising several parties. When these parties were independent of each other, they could not do anything. Today, they are together. Even with such an alliance, nothing has been done for the Tamil people. At the election to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), the TNA asked for a two-thirds majority to deliver something to the people. People gave the mandate. But, nothing has been delivered despite the lapse of one year and four months after the Constitution of the NPC. They do not have practical solutions to problems.

The NPC could not use the total financial allocations from the Treasury. A large percentage of the allocations remained unused and was returned to the Treasury on January 1. That is the dismal performance of the TNA.  Less than half of the allocations were sent back in this manner. Whatever amount they used was only after the matter was raised.        


 

QOther than that, what are the reasons for people to vote for the President at your behest rather than the opposition candidate at the behest of the TNA?

Today, there are no displaced people as such.  Unlike during the conflict, people do not live in sorrow and fear. People are aware that the TNA cannot address their issues, as witnessed so far. People virtually need food, not decorations.


 

QDespite all such allegations, people continued to vote for the TNA in most cases. Why is it?

 Sections of the Tamil media paint a negative picture all the time leaving people in the lurch at the end. They supported the TNA at the last provincial election. Today, Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran is an inaccessible person even for some TNA members. People cannot reach him in any way. He does not know people’s aspirations.


 

QBut, at the same time, there are some unresolved issues of Tamil people such as land grabbing and High Security Zones. The TNA speaks of them, and ask people to vote accordingly. What is your response to such matters?

Problems can be resolved only through dialogue. For that, we have to remain engaged with the government. In the election manifesto of the common opposition candidate, nothing is mentioned on the resolution of problems of the Tamil people. But, presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa articulated his measures to address the unresolved issues of our people.

The TNA is not interested in resolving the issues of the people because if they do so it will run short of political slogans. Recently, the leaders of the opposition including UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga were campaigning on the common stage in Jaffna. But, the TNA was not represented at that rally.

 In this political exercise, a lot of money seems to have been transacted and secret political pacts signed.


 

QMost mainstream Tamil and Muslim parties have politically aligned with the common opposition candidate. But, your EPDP has decided otherwise. Why is it?

Both are common candidates.   Each of them is backed by different parties. So, both can be called common candidates. My party has always been with the government candidate. Today, we have achieved peace under his leadership, along with so many development activities.  President Rajapaksa is a step ahead as a result. We must have someone with competence to deliver. 
 
The President has good control over his United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). But, the opposition is a hodgepodge. There are parties with contradictory and confusing      policies under the opposition banner.  


 

QSome Tamil parties such as the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) called for a boycott of the election. What are your views on such calls?

This is a call by former MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam. They are playing what I called ‘politrics’. People should not get carried away by such extremist calls. Only an expecting lady  can undergo labour pains and deliver her baby. Nobody else could do it on her behalf. Others can only play midwifery roles.   We have to face this reality when addressing the problems of Tamils. It has to be done within Sri Lanka. Outsiders cannot impose solutions. India or the United States cannot do it. We have to deal with it leaving others to do midwifery roles.

President Rajapaksa is the best option we have in this exercise.  I had dealt with all the southern leaders barring former President J.R. Jayewardene.  I worked with late Presidents R. Premadasa and D.B.Wijetunga. After that, I engaged with then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike. But, President Rajapaksa delivered what is more important.  

Today, the conflict is over. Boys are free. During the conflict , people lost lives. It has stopped now.

QAt the last NPC election, the voter turnout was very large. Do you expect a similar turnout this time?

There are around 790,000 voters in the North. Of them, 485,000 turned up at the last election to the NPC. Around, 50,000 votes were rejected.  Though the TNA polled an overwhelming majority of votes at that election, it would drop drastically this time. The TNA has been exposed. People now know that the TNA cannot deliver.   We will be able to ensure more votes for the President this time.


 

QHow do you assess the impact of the defection of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen?

People are happy in the North over his defection because he took sides in carrying out work in the area. As a minister, he sided with one community in carrying out the work. People knew it.