Despite Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 2005 election manifesto clearly including a clause on the abolition of the Executive Presidency as one of the goals to be achieved upon being elected. Today, nine years afterwards, the UPFA General Secretary, Minister Susil Premajayantha says President Rajapaksa never made such a promise. In a candid interview with Daily Mirror, Minister Premajayantha spoke on why they could not abolish the Executive Presidency and responded to the attacks being made by the defected Ministers concerning the state of affairs within the SLFP.........

QA front-liner of the SLFP has crossed over and is now contesting Mahinda Rajapaksa in the run for Presidency. What reasons contributed to these defections?

You can’t use the word front-liners, because it was only the Secretary General who crossed over. Others are not front-liners. Who says so?

QWhat about the grievances expressed by those who defected?

Those are limited to their personal views. Maithripala Sirisena had some grievances because he was expecting the Prime Minister post. In the days that led up to the last general election, he even launched a book at the BMICH to promote his stature but he was not able to get the position. So far, only three SLFPers have crossed over, including Maithripala. M.K.D.S. Gunawardena had some issues with some of our provincial politicians and Duminda Dissanayake had some issues with the Central Province Chief Minister and one of the Ministers.

Others who defected including Wasantha Senanayake and Naveen Dissanayake are not original SLFPers. Rajitha has changed eight parties so far. So this is not a strange thing.
QWhat about the allegations they make concerning the Rajapaksa family bandyism within the government and the SLFP?  Some who defected claim that even you voiced concerns regarding this matter. . .

I have never spoken to Maithripala or anyone who crossed over regarding any issues. Only the President is above me according to the party hierarchy of the UPFA. So why should I go to some other person and ask for relief?
Family dominance in politics exists all over the world – not just in Sri Lanka. Look at India; after independence, the Nehru family governed the country for many decades. Even in Sri Lanka, during the regime of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, her brother was the speaker and both her parents have been Prime Ministers of this country. Why were none of these allegations levelled during that period?   

" Presuming Maithripala would win – which wouldn’t happen – the transfer of powers under Article 37 can only be done by reason of illness, absence from Sri Lanka or any other cause that would render him unable to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of his office. So it is clear that this transference of powers is not practical. So then, how can the voters of our country believe this common candidate?"

QFormer member of  the UPFA coalition – the JHU claims that other members of the coalition are not given space to voice their concern. What is your response to such allegations?

Those claims are not true. Because we engaged in discussions with them and on the proposals they submitted. We agreed to a majority of the 35 proposals they had submitted. But they demanded constitutional reforms before the Presidential election, to which we could not agree since the time frame between the submission of their proposals and the Presidential election was not sufficient to implement constitutional reforms.  

QThere is a growing call within the country for the abolition of the Executive Presidency. This was a promise made by President Rajapaksa, and it seems likely that he will renew the pledge during the upcoming polls. Even with a 2/3 majority, why wasn’t the Executive Presidential system abolished?

Who made such a promise? There was no such promise; it is not part of the Mahinda Chinthana. It does not pledge to abolish the system but contains a clause that proposes constitutional reforms to reduce powers of the Executive presidency.
  Even in the election manifesto for the upcoming presidential polls, we will be including constitutional reforms in a broader sense. That is why the Speaker appointed a Select Committee, but the JHU resigned from it and the UNP and TNA boycotted. However, even in the future, if we wish to reform the constitution or add new concepts, it has to be done either through a parliamentary select committee or the parliament would have to be converted into a constitutional committee.  That was how the Soulbury constitution was changed into a Republican constitution in the 1970s. Once again in 1978, former President J.R. Jayawardena had got the mandate from the people to create a new constitution. Therefore, as I pointed out earlier, you need time to introduce constitutional reforms – that is the basic law.  

QSo are you saying that constitutional reforms proposed by the common Opposition movement to be implemented within a 100 days - if elected into power - are not feasible?

There are varying opinions about the topic of abolishing the Executive Presidency alone, within the Opposition. The movement led by Ven. Sobitha Thera upon the instructions of former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva; calls for the abolition of the Executive Presidential system. The JVP meanwhile, initially declared the upcoming presidential polls illegal but now seems to take part in the campaign. Former President Kumaratunga and the UNP are also canvassing for the abolition of the Executive Presidency and this was their stance until the signing of the MoU at the Viharamahadevi Park. Before 1.00 pm on the same day the common candidate signed another MoU with the JHU; which no one has seen and former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake says he is not aware of the contents of this ‘secret document’.  

"These election monitors are also funded by foreign countries. I know very well what happened during the Northern Provincial Council election. On the day of the polls, certain monitoring groups openly supported the TNA and I have complained about this even to the Elections Commissioner."

Meanwhile, Udaya Gammanpila who rejoined the UPFA says the MoU they signed with the common candidate did not mention anything about the abolition of the Executive Presidency, and only calls to curtail some of the powers of the system. Moreover, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera says that the common candidate can continue for six years if he is elected into power while, Tissa Attanayake said that an agreement has been made to transfer all Executive powers of the Presidency to Ranil Wickramasinghe as per Article 37 of the constitution.  

Presuming Maithripala would win – which he wouldn’t – the transfer of powers under Article 37 can only be done by reason of illness, absence from Sri Lanka or any other cause that would render him unable to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of his office. So it is clear that this transference of powers is not practical. So then how can the voters of our country believe this common candidate? Who is handling this common candidate? Is it Ms. Kumaratunga, Ranil Wickramasinghe, the JHU or some other foreign force? But it is certain that our people with a 96% literacy rate would not vote for this uncertainty created by the common candidate.  

QAt an SLFP press briefing, Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that the defection of former Minister Sirisena was a result of a foreign conspiracy, and even blamed certain embassies of funding the operation. Are you in a position now to reveal those who are behind this ‘conspiracy’?  

That you would only have to ask from Minister Dullas, because I have no knowledge about it. But I guess, some forces are behind this.

QAs the Minister of Environment, why are you not taking any action against these illegal cutouts and hoardings of the President that have been put up all over Colombo?   

These cutouts have been put up not just in Colombo but even in remote areas. The UPFA holds power in 296 local government bodies out of a total of 335 to which include 2912 members. They have been engaging with our political campaign for the past three/four months since we have been developing that network. These hoardings have come up due to the unprecedented level of infrastructure development projects being carried out
in the country.  

QBut these hoardings have suddenly increased after the announcement of the Presidential polls?

Yeah! but what to do? The President’s birthday fell on November 18, so quite a number of posters and cutouts were erected in celebration and we have now asked them to be removed. Why don’t you ask the UNP Mayor on why he is not taking any action to remove these cutouts?

QBut the UNP claims the Mayor is unable to perform his duties due to being pressurised by the Urban Development Authority?

Supposing, if the Mayor crossed over to our side, then what would be the position of the UNP? This only reflects the inability of the UNP to control their local level politicians. Also, the government has not spent a single cent on these hoardings or cutouts. With the presidential elections coming up, our members are well aware that a general election is in the offing so they are preparing for their election campaigns as well, in order to win more preferential votes.  As a result, most of these cutouts and hoardings have been put up by them.

QDoesn’t that reflect the inability of the UPFA to control their politicians?

No! Those cutouts were erected before the date of nominations. Now it is the duty of the respective local government authorities to remove them.

QWhat about the allegations of throwing ‘soirees’ for public servants at the Temple Trees targeting the upcoming polls, which are settled through public funds?  

They are not paid through public funds, because we have many sponsors. Which is common during election periods. It is not only the UPFA; even the Opposition has their sponsors who would spend for their campaigning.

QBut the ministries have been footing the bills of these ‘meetings’ for state sector officials at Temple Trees held recently?

That I am not aware of, but each ministry has its own functions. Before leaving, Maithripala, as Health Minister, gave away 5000 appointments to nurses during an event at the Sugathadasa stadium. His ministry paid that bill because it was an official function. The very same day he crossed over from our side. He attended a function at ‘Ape Gama’ and even that was funded by the Health Ministry!  

QWhat about the reports that have been circulating about trips to Malaysia, being awarded to chief accounting officials in the district secretariats, who are to be deployed as counting officers at the upcoming election?  

That is a complete fabrication! Why should we offer such trips? Do you think people will change their minds just because we offer them trips to Malaysia?

QElection monitors have expressed concern over the rising misuse of state properties in election campaigning. Are any steps being taken to ensure that state resources/properties are not exploited?

No. We are not using any state property because we have our own properties. These election monitors are also funded by foreign countries. I know very well what happened during the Northern Provincial Council elections. On the day of the polls, certain monitoring groups openly supported the TNA, and I have complained about this even to the Elections Commissioner. Don’t rely on these election monitors.  

The election monitors can make any claims they want. Why can’t the Opposition trust the public servants? Do you think they would risk losing their pension, credibility and dignity by engaging in unlawful activities?
Our position is that the people believe in the President and he has faith in them. That is why President Rajapaksa called for polls two years before the due date. It is ironic that today, the very people who attempted to extend their Presidency, dealt in corrupt actions are now calling for the abolition of Executive Presidency and good governance in the country. (laughs)  

"Who made a promise to abolish the Executive presidency? There was no such promise; it is not part of the Mahinda Chinthana. It does not pledge to abolish the system but contains a clause that proposes constitutional reforms to reduce powers of the Executive presidency."

QHow do you view former President Kumaratunga re-entering the political arena?

Yes, we saw on TV that it was she, who dominated the press briefing held to announce defection of Maithripala Sirisena and of his candidacy.  It is no surprise because even at the 2005 election, without any allegation against the President, she did not support him although he was the party representative. She even pressurised some of the ministers not to suppor President Rajapaksa. Again in 2010, after President Rajapaksa defeated terrorism, she still chose to support Sarath Fonseka.

QNewspaper reports allegedly quoting intelligence reports have noted a drop in President Rajapaksa’s popularity. How certain are you of his victory?  

This survey that has been quoted in the newspaper has allegedly been done on the day after his defection. It is basic knowledge that a proper survey cannot be conducted in that manner. The law enforcement official whom they have quoted in the article denies and rejects the credibility of the report quoted in the article. They are all false figures. In 2010, a leading electronic media announced a survey they conducted indicated a 62% support for Sarath Fonseka but eventually what happened?  So I am certain that we will win with a majority much larger than at the last presidential election.