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Q:Isn't it time that Srilankan separates the Temple from the
State. You are expected to raise the vision of the masses. How
would you influence the country and the budhist clergy that power
needs to be shared with the provinces. What plans do you have
to go beyond the 13th Ammendment. - Anton Norbet, Canada
Answer:You mustn't judge the Sangha or the Buddhist tradition
on the basis of the conduct or the statements of a few. Buddhism
is a religion of non-violence, compassion and tolerance. Millions
of humble Buddhists and the vast majority of the Sangha are deeply
influenced by this great tradition, through which all differences
of caste, creed, race and language merge into one great unity.
At a practical level I can quote several examples of Buddhist
temples that have donated temple lands for the construction of
Mosques and for the construction of Hindu Kovils. Recently too
I happened to see in Kandy a Mosque for the construction of which
land had been donoted by the Asgiriya temple. This is the Buddhist
tradition that I know. I know for a fact that the vast majority
of the Sangha and the laity are tolerant and compassionate and
support an arrangement in which power is shared. What they are
concerned about is the division of the country.
Q:Mr Rajapkse, Considering all the problems in our country,
second only to war is corruption. You know that this is prevelent
in all walks of life. Will it be possible for both the Ruling
party and opposition to draw up a plan to eliminate this as much
as possible. It would save the country Millions that are needed
for the development. Not in the form of exposing what happened
in the past,(we know how that works) but in the form of preventing
them. - Chandrani, USA
Answer:Most of your question has already been answered. In a
money-led society (that of finace-based neo-liberal economic globalisation
without constraints), the only viable way of fighting corruption
is to strengthen the institutions of civil society and the overall
democratic processes of transparency, accountability and right
to information and their attendant legal frameworks. On matters
like this I am all for a consensus between government and opposition.
Q:Dear Hon. Mahinda Rajapakse, Congratulations! It's an honor
for your hardwork and dedication to SLFP. You are one of a few
whom I admire in our politics. I have been observing that neither
UNP nor SLFP had acted as a responsible opposition when it comes
to ethnic issue. Will you change this unfortunate Sri Lanka's
tradition of opposition. Beacuse of these cheap political gains,
we are approaching Somalia, instead of Singapore. - Tham,
USA
Answer:I have responded to your concerns in my answers to earlier
questions
Q:Dear Mr Rajapakse, Sourthern province of Sri Lanka which
has lot of resources and produced lot of resourceful people who
made Sri Lanka proud remains relatively underdeveloped. As a son
of the south do you have a clear vision to develop the south if
you assume leadership of our country ? Thank you - Vidya
Siriwardana, Dubai,U.A.E.
Answer:Indeed I have a strategic plan for the South. Its central
pivot will be the International Harbour and the International
Airport at Hambantota. The harbour will be the deepest harbour
in the whole of Asia and will attract a tremendous amount of shipping
as it is only a few hours off the international shipping lane
that connects Europe with Asia. It will be Asia's biggest and
deepest trans-shipment port. It will result in a revolutionary
transformation of the economy of the South in particular and Sri
Lanka in general. Another important part of my plan is to divert
the waters of the Gin Ganga, Nilwala Ganga, Uma Oya and Kalu Ganga
to the Hambantota and Moneragala districts and at the same time
to harness to a maximum the waters of that great perennial river
- the Walawe Ganga for both drinking and irrigation purposes.
This will give you some indication of my thinking on the question
of Southern Province Development.
Q:Dear Sir, Last election results showed that the loss of faith
of the minority, especially of Muslims, on SLFP caused a humiliating
defeat to PA (SLFP). I think this was because of Mawanella incident
and the way the SLFP leadership acted on that issue. What practical
steps are you going to initiate to win the minds of Muslims and
other minority communities in order to win the next elections?
- Nizam, Malaysia
Answer:An incident or two cannot and, in view, will not shake
the confidence that ordinary, simple Muslim people have in the
SLFP. Speaking for myself, my own cultural and political ties
with Muslim communities both here and abroad have a long tradition.
For instance, I have been the Founder President of the Sri Lanka
- Palestine Solidarity Committee from as long ago as the 1970's.
Very recently too when the Muslim Refugees in Puttalam were facing
difficulties and protesting, as Leader of the Opposition I visited
them, discussed their problems with them and mediated to resolve
them.
Q:In your opinion now (Not the parties opinion and not your
opinion in 5 years) who should contest the next Presidential election
from SLFP(PA)? - Bhanu Kumarawadu, Colombo
Answer:The person who is selected by the majority of the party
at all levels to be their candidate. And, so that the members
of the party are facilitated to make their choice through a democratic
process, internal democracy within the party must be strengthened
in every possible way.
Q:Do you perceive a role for Mr. Anura Bandaranaike in the
opposition hierarchy? If so, what would it be? - M.W. de
Silva, 9/1, Charles Way, Colombo-3
Answer:My concept of the opposition is that of a team. Mr Anura
Bandaranaike, like all others, should function as a team member
and I am confident he will. As the team leader I have the strength
- drawn from my personal political history - to set an example
to my team members. For over 30 years I have loyally stood by
the party, never abandoning it even when my own interests were
affected. I am fortunate, thus, to have the moral legitimacy to
lead the opposition team.
Q:Dear Hon. Minister! Can you comment the actions taken by
present government and earlier by your government regarding the
ethnic problem and what do you think about leader of LTTE personally.
- Thamilan, Colombo
Answer:It was the PA government of Mrs Chandrika Kumaratunga
which started the peace process in 1994. Mr Ranil Wickremasinghe
has taken some important steps to continue the process of confidence
building - a process which the PA government started. As such
we are happy to see a continuation of our policies. This is necessary.
But Mr Wickremasinghe should insist that the other side too provides
confidence building to the people in the south. For example, the
abduction and forcible recruitment of children has been disturbing.
We are also concerned about arms shipments being unloaded in the
seas off our coast. We need to have confidence building from both
sides. As to what I think of the LTTE leader, I am personally
opposed to any form of violence and as such I hope he will renounce
violence and join the democratic process.
Q:I thought Pramadasa and JR made election a mockery. But last
election is the worst election in Sri Lankan history. What is
your plan to eradicate these problem? - Pallavan, Ottawa
Answer:Though I may not agree with your sweeping conclusion,
I think there is a need for some radical changes in the elections
law. Through new legal frameworks as well as institutional arrangements
we must re-discover a system of elections in which money power,
thuggery and violence cannot be used to advantage.
Q:Dear Mahinda, Most probably You are going to be our next
president/Primeminister of our country. Do we have some hopes
that will you let public to enjoy the quality of politics (Gentlymen
politics)that your father, Honorable D.A Rajapakse used to practice
our home towns such as Tabgalla, Beliatta & Mulkirigala. -
Daya Siriwardena, Sydney Australia
Answer:I am deeply committed to 'Gentleman Politics'. In the
days of my Father and others, society was value-led and the value-environment
was so strong as to sustain 'gentlemen' as 'gentlemen'. Today,
as a result of the culture of Finance Capital that swept through
our country after 1977 when market forces were allowed to take
the place of values, we have largely evolved into becoming a money-led
society. In a money-led society, 'gentleman politics' can be a
reality only if we evolve an institutional environment in which
genuine civil society institutions (with internal democracy, accountability
and non-dependence on foreign funding) are strong enough to demand
transparency from politicians and hold them accountable at all
levels. The political environment must also allow for the free
expression of the citizen's "Right to Information'. It is
only in such an institutional environment that 'gentleman politicians'
can function. So these are the institutional changes I would like
to see in our country.
Q:The SLFP has always been perceived as a Sinhala Buddhist party.
President Kumaratunga came to power because she was able to change
that perception. Unfortunately she was unable to sustain that
image and the minorities deserted her and her party. You have
also been perceived as a Sinhala Buddhist hardliner. What steps
would you take to change the image of the SLFP and that of your
own to make it an "electable" party? - Chris
Joseph, Nugegoda
Answer:The SLFP was dubbed with a false image of being a "Sinhala
Buddhist Party' simply because it recognised the Temple as a strong
civil society institution in Buddhist Sinhala villages. Look at
the reality. The Temple at the level of the village is not a simple
straight-jacketed religious institution. It is also the economic,
social and cultural voice of the village. Whether we like it or
not, it still continues to play this civil society role - though
perhaps less than in the past. In Catholic Sinhala villages, the
Church assumes almost the identical role as an important civil
society institution. Therefore in Catholic areas the SLFP has
given the same respect and recognition to the Church as to the
Temple. In Tamil areas, the Tamil political parties, by not ever
identifying themselves strongly with the State even when they
are a part of government, play a civil society role in relation
to the State and political society. That is why we in the SLFP
give much recognition to the Tamil Parties.As a democratic party
committed to the strengthening of civil society, we have been
recognising and respecting civil society institutions wherever
we find them and as a result some people may dub on us a wrong
identity - because they don't understand the country's political
processes at depth. However as for the ordinary Tamil, Muslim
and Catholic voter, they do not seem to share this false view
of the SLFP. In the Presidential election of 1982, Mr. Kobbekaduwa
the SLFP candidate had a very high poll in the Tamil districts
of the North. By way of another example, the Catholics have voted
heavily for the SLFP at several elections including that of 1970
and 1994. The SLFP has also always had a strong vote base among
the poorer Muslims. So the people in fact don't accept the image
of the SLFP as a 'Sinhala Buddhist Party'.
Q:The major reason for the defeat of the PA government was
due to lack of professionals to innovate & impliment effectively
new things in all trade. So, are you going to strength the SLFP
with strong master mind people to move the SLFP for victory &
there by to develop our country ? - Gamini Jayalath, Katunayake
Answer:Politics is the language of the people. Management is
the language of professionals. Neither should politics be subordinated
to the norms of management nor should management be subordinated
to the norms of politics. The role of a leader is to mould a process
through which politics and management, politicians and professionals,
impact on one another in a healthy manner and influence one another
without destroying each other's identity. This is the challenge
for us.
Q:Suppose you are at the helm of the new government instead
of Mr. Wickramasinghe, will you be following similar route as
Mr. Wickramasinghe does, trying to achieve what he refers to as
'the last chance for peace'? What are the points that you don't
like in present plan? What are your alternatives to them? - bandara,
Japan
Answer:I don't have enough information on Mr. Wickremasinghe's
plans to comment on them.
Q:Hon. Minister - There is speculation that Anura will be the
next Presidential candidate from PA. Peopole say that is why his
sister Chankdrika wanted him to come back. Some say Anura did
a timely calculation giving up a little for the moment for a bigger
share in the future. Many people also think you are the most suitable
representative of the party as the candidate for presidency. What
do you think about this? - Jayasiri (Jerry) Gamage, Paris
Answer:I have met many people who think that they are the most
suitable persons to become President of Sri Lanka. And in a democracy
they have every right to air their views - however absurd or funny
some of them might seem to be. At the end it is not they but the
people who decide who their President will be: And as for candidates,it
is the party that finally decides, and competition for leadership
within a party is always a sign of health and not of sickness.
Q:Hon Mr. Rajapaksa, First let me congratulate you on your
appointment as the Leader of Opposition. My question We all agree
on a negotiated solution. Is it mandatory for LTTE to renounce
Eelam and violance as the core of the agreemant and if they do
not what is the alternate path for the Govt(rest of the country)?
Short of Eelam will Sri Lanka agree to LTTE autonomy beyond autonomy
of States in India? - Kith de Silva, Australia
Answer:I hope the government will try and the LTTE will permit
the ordinary, simple Tamil men and women to be brought in to participate
in the discourse relating to the settlement. Their perspectives
can be very different from and much more reasonable than those
of the official LTTE which after all is not a democratically constituted
movement.
Q:Sir, In any event,your party happens to be back in power
and you become the president or the prime minister tomorrow,will
you follow what the UNF is doing at the moment to solve the ethnic
problem or will you propose a different method?Thanks. - Paul
Fernandopulle, Miami Beach,FL, USA
Answer:We don't have sufficient information on what the UNF government
is doing to resolve the ethnic issue. So I cannot comment on this.
And moreover, these are issues on which the party must decide.
Q:After UNF Government came to power, they have taken various
kind of revenge from the other opposition parties. What kind of
preventive actions you have taken inside parliament and outside
parliament? What kind of results yo've recieved? - Wimal
Ranasinghe, California, U.S.A.
Answer:It is a most unfortunate state of affairs at a time when
the national call is for consensus politics to resolve the ethnic
issue. We are trying to prevail on the government to act in a
sensible manner and give priority to national issues rather than
to local vendettas. Live and let live is a cornerstone of democracy.
Q:What would your position on a federal state solution (like
the one in Canada)for Sri Lanka? - indran, toronto, canada
Answer:Let us - the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burgher
people - discuss among ourselves and develop our own home-grown
model through dialogue and consensus., while reaching out to the
experiences and models in other countries and learning lessons
from them. We should not accept or reject existing models on an
a-priori basis or on the basis of what individual leaders like
or don't like. Our model must be the outcome of a participatory
process of discourse within our own country.
Q:What is your plans in a future government under your leadership
to attract foreign investments - Roshan Perera, Baltimore,
Maryland, USA
Answer:My strategy will be to attract the kind of foreign investment
that capitalises the comparative advantages that are specific
to our country. For example, we have highly intelligent, educated
human resources. Foreign investment in IT will maximise this specific
comparative advantage of ours.
Q:My congratulations on your new appointment.Last time when
you all were in the opposition ,it did not seemas if you all had
any plans ready to govern the country.Are you planning out such
atleast now? The copy of the proposed memorandum of understanding
to be signed by the govt with the LTTE seems to have some unsavoury
clauses pemitting a lot of freedom for the LTTE in every sphere
of life.Your comments on them please. - Parakrama S.Jayasinghe,
Southern California
Answer:Prior to developing plans I think the first priority for
the opposition is to develop an alternative people-centric vision
or perspective of globalisation in contrast to the strongly finance-centric
perspective of the UNF. Plans for the different sectors of the
economy and society must be worked out within such a framework
and not in an ad-hoc, hasty manner. As for the MOU signed by the
government and the LTTE, till we have an adequate fund of information
about the processes that led up to it and the negotiations that
preceded it, I don't like to comment on it.
Q:Mr. Rajapakse, Congratulations to you. I really hope you
can work to improve the image of the SLFP. As a loyal SLFPer you
have sacrificed a lot and deserve this and you have earned it
on your own merits. What can you do to change the image that the
PA was incompetent and corrupt to the core and basically lost
the election and gave it to the UNP because of monumental corruption
and inefficiency from top down? How can leaders lead by example?
And how can the President be taught to respect people's time in
governance? - Mano Ratwatte, Oklahoma USA
Answer:Corruption and inefficiency characterise many, if not
most developing societies. Furthermore, individual developing
societies at some historical moments are relatively less or more
corrupt than at other moments. It is always relative. Corruption
and inefficiency are symptoms of a set of interrelated systemic
problems. These are - the lack of adequate, well developed institutions
and legal frameworks for ensuring transparency and for holding
those who handle public resources accountable to the people; the
absence of a strong democratic political culture; the absence
of strong civil society institutions that are themselves transparent
and accountable to the people, the absence of an operational Right
to Information, and so on. I would like to mobilise the country
to confront these problems at a systemic level rather than at
a symptomatic level. That is my orientation.
Q: If you come into the power again, do you still wish to introduce
the employers charter. And do you wish that you can balance the
interests of business community with implementing such a policy
which favours the employers to employees. - Thakshala,
London
Answer:The relevant principle is not whether the interests of
employers or those of employees should have precedence. It is
also not a question of whether one set of interests has to be
at the expense of the other. My perspective is that if development
is to be sustainable, its benefits should be shared with equity
- not equally - by all sections of the population; and that includes
both employers and employees. The interests of both should be
managed within a Rights Perspective; that is, within a framework
that respects the Rights of both employers and employees.. Let
me add that the present economic crisis requires cooperation between
business and labour.
Q:Dear Mahinda, Sri Lankans have lost faith in all politicians
be it red blue or green.What would you do as the leader of the
opposition to restore the citizens faith in the politicians and
by it the democratic traditions of the country. - J Goonetilleke,
London
Answer:I will first take the initiative to develop and strengthen
democratic processes and institutions and help evolve a strong
democratic culture and mind-set in the country. Through such a
scheme, the people will be empowered to hold the politicians accountable
to them. When that happens, the politicians will re-gain the confidence
of the people.
Q:It was reported that President Kumaratunga did not want you
as the opposition leader. She initially appointed the former PM
as the opposition leader. You became the opposition leader after
considerable pressure was apllied on CBK by your fellow partymen.
After all these, how easy it is to work with CBK and advance YOUR
vision and agenda for the country? - K. Balachandran, Colombo
Answer:Our parliamentary institutions, as you know, tend to follow
the traditions and conventions of the Westminster model. Accordingly,
when a governing party moves into opposition, the former prime
minister becomes leader of the opposition unless he opts not to
accept the post. When subsequently the former prime minister resigned
his post as opposition leader, President Kumaratunga proposed
and former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar seconded my name
as his successor. So there was no problem as such.
Q:What are the driven forces behind you to take the leadership
of opposition party over Anura Bandaranayake? - Pushpa
Gamage, from Nederlands
Answer:On a proposal made by President Kumaratunga, the parliamentary
group of the People's Alliance unanimously resolved to invite
me to lead the opposition. In deference to their decision, I accepted
their offer.
Q:It’s a good feeling that there seems to be some commitment
towards a peaceful solution to the civil war in Sri Lanka. All
around the world, there are never ending conflicts between groups
that are not coming to senses to sit down and talk. I hope Mr.
Wickramasinghe and Mr. Prabhakaran could be good examples for
the whole world by coming to a peaceful solution and be recognized
for it after all these years of hardship put on civilians. How
would you describe your position in this important juncture? -
Jay, USA
Answer:I reflect the dream of all true Sri Lankans that peace
should soon dawn on our country. My support for a peaceful Sri
Lanka is non-negotiable.
Q:Dear sir Tamils never treated equally by sinhalese, If they
want to go sepratly why can't you let them go.Please think.This
make both parties happy. thank you. - Raj, London
Answer:Neither you nor I have the right to take decisions on
behalf of the Sinhala and Tamil people. It is the people themselves
who have the right to decide through the functioning of democratic
processes and institutions. My own personal view, however, is
that the cultural and religious practices, values, customs, habits,
modes of social interaction and economic practices of the vast
majority of ordinary Sinhala and Tamil people are very close to
one another. As a result, I have sensed a deep yearning on the
part of everyone to evolve sustainable institutions for sharing
the common cultural, economic, social and political resources
of our country and living together within the framework of one
strong nation.
Q:Sir, You played a very prominent role in bringing back SLFP
to power. I believe you are right person to explain why SLFP lost
the last election. Mowjood - Seyed Mowjood, Västerås
Sweden
Answer:Let me give you my personal viewpoint. The processes of
neo-liberal economic globalization into which we incorporated
ourselves in 1977 brought varying degrees of benefit to 30 or
40 per cent of the population and left perhaps 60 per cent of
our people more disadvantaged than they were before. First of
all, these were the forces that brought the PA to power in 1994.
Between 1994 and 2001 the PA, in my personal view, failed to develop
a well thought out alternative way of negotiating with the processes
of neo-liberal globalization on behalf of this broad, disadvantaged
60% of the people. The people wanted from us an alternative but
within the framework of globalization itself. We failed to provide
one. So we were defeated. My priority objective therefore, as
opposition leader, is to launch various dialogues and discourses
through which we could make globalization which is now finance-centric
and technology-centric much more people-centric at ;least for
our country. Once we are able to project a new people-centric
vision for the PA, then surely the people will give us a chance
to implement it.
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