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Former Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne’s son Chathura Senarathne, Democratic National Movement Leader and Pivithuru Hetak National Movement General Secretary, shared his thoughts on his political history, future and several other much-talked issues.

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QFirst of all, could you tell us about your attraction in to politics and how it was continued so far?
Politics was never a stranger to me as I grew up in a political atmosphere with my father. Frankly, I was attracted to politics since my childhood when I was accompanied by late politician Wijaya Kumaranathunga to all of his political meetings. I was involved in various politically important phenomena including the Kandalama hotel struggle, Eppawala struggle and Norochchole battle for the protection of rights of workers. I tasted the gunfire and tear gas at the May Day in 1986 which was banned by President J.R. Jayewardene. I was active in street struggles, the political stage and decision making bodies since then. We wanted to break the power centre built up through the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.
We took that struggle to the street. Leaders of all parties including the UNP, JVP, the Democratic Party and the representatives of the government supported us. By November 21, 2014, we found common candidate Maithripala Sirisena as an honest politician who loved his homeland. Finally we won our struggle.



QIf you were active in political occurrences as you said, why did it take such a long time for you to contest for an election? 
I was invited to join politics by the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe several times. Mr. Wickremesinghe asked me to contest in the year 2000 General Election. But, I refused since my desire was to enter into politics only with a National Government where the support of all parties was mustered. President Sirisena had said that a national government would be established after the elections. Therefore, I decided to contest at this election building up a massive democratic social liberation movement.



QYou say you are against nepotism while you and your father are engaged in politics and your mother was also serving as the Secretary to the Health Ministry. How would you justify that your family was not on the same nepotism track?
Indeed I am against nepotism which could be defined as the practice among relatives or close friends, without regard to their merit. But, my family is not the same as that. I engaged in politics not with the support of my father. I am an independent person. When it comes to my mother, she fulfilled her duties as the Secretary to the Health Ministry where some irregularities had been taking place. After she helped me to find the culprits who misused the public property, she had to quit her job. If my father had powers and if we used them for our benefit, my mother would be still doing her job. I suppose that this incident itself will suffice for you to prove that our family is not on the nepotism track.



QWe could see many sons of politicians performing in the Sri Lankan political arena. What would you think about them and the whole youthful representation into Lankan politics?
They have thriven in to politics for the sake of their fathers’ influence. I could see nothing important done by those so-called politicians’ sons for the betterment of the country as yet. I have not depended on my father and people do know it. There were several occasions where I did not agree with my father’s decisions. When it comes to young representation in Lankan politics, the situation is very pathetic. I assume that the youthful representation in politics should broaden which would then definitely help to develop the country.


 
Q: You were lashing out at the UNP saying you along with your movement would surround the UNP party headquarters, if the party offered nominations to corrupt individuals. But you have collaborated with the UNP and are contesting under the UNP ticket. Wasn’t it a political strategy made for personal benefits by you since an apparent UNP victory is in the air these days?
A: I never depended on perks and privileges. I said I along with our movement would surround the Sirikotha and SLFP head quarters if the party authorities gave nominations to corrupt individuals. But, as we observed, they did not offer nominations to such persons who were levelled with corruption allegations. Premier Ranil Wikcremesinghe spoke to us and promised not to do so and he kept up to his word. But, the SLFP nominations board was unable to do so. Hence, persons including me, Dr. Rajitha Senarathne and Hirunika Premachandra joined the UNP. We could not stay any longer. 


Q: In your father’s history of politics are there any circumstances you did not agree with? And what are they?
A: I often opposed him and he had said it in many political meetings. When my father was in the government, it was I who received the bodies of late TNA Jaffna District MP Nadaraja Raviraj and former presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. Afterwards, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa had phoned my father and inquired regarding my course of actions. Not only that but also, we wanted to support the humanitarian mission. But, I thought my father and other UNP parliamentarians including Karu Jayasooriya would establish a national government, after selecting Mr. Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister in 2005. But, my father and his other UNP members quit the UNP and joined the government in 2005. In my opinion, that was the worst mistake my father had ever done in his political history. He should not have left the UNP. If he and the others had remained, the party would be stronger than ever.