You cannot develop the country if the feelings of minorities are hurt, says Sirisena
Former president Maithripala Sirisena, who broke away from the Rajapaksas and won a historic election victory in 2015, is back with the Rajapaksa brothers and sits as a member of parliament with their Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna. In an interviewThe former president spoke about the future of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party – whose backside he leads – decentralization, minority rights and democracy. Extracts:
You recently noted that the SLFP had faced a “great injustice” in the general election and indicated that the provincial council elections could possibly be held separately. Would you do that?
We were treated unfairly when the candidates were selected ahead of the general election in August 2020. We haven’t been given enough time in the districts where we are strong. While we still look forward to going through the provincial council elections as a coalition, we insist on a fair share of the seats we are entitled to. If we get that, we won’t have a problem voting with the government. If there isn’t fair treatment, our group opts for a solo trip.
We are ready for both options.
Then what is the future of the SLFP or what is left of it since a large part of the party is already part of the SLPP?
We have a very strong plan for the future of the SLFP. We’re bringing a number of new faces on board next year. In the coming months, our organizers will be launching a grassroots rejuvenation program.
Would you be willing to work with former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as you did before you won the election in January 2015?
She’s no longer at the party. She supported Sajith Premadasa in the presidential election in November 2019 [now Leader of Opposition]So she was asked to leave the party.
Some within the government want provincial councils to be abolished while the prime minister has asked officials to speed up the deal. How do you see these contradicting positions?
We have had the provincial council system for over 30 years. We have not seriously examined whether they succeeded in serving the intended purpose. I believe that some changes are needed in the provincial council system. When the central government pumps money into the councils, it is investing in the country’s development. However, the return on this investment was lower.
From a development perspective, I think that a district-level body like a district development committee would work better than the provincial councils because we are a small country. For a large country like India a provincial system is good, but we are a country of 21 million people.
How can this arrangement ensure the transfer of power?
We need to strengthen the District Development Board, that should be the solution. We need to reduce wasteful spending while strengthening local authorities. The decentralization of power through these district development bodies can lead to a compromise. In principle, I believe in power sharing and decentralization. In the areas where the war was waged, the incidence of poverty is still very high today.
So how would you respond to those within the government calling for the elimination of the provincial councils established under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution?
The 13th Amendment is a product of the Indo-Lanka Agreement of 1987. The Provincial Council Law is a product of the 13th Amendment. So I know that getting rid of provincial councils is not that easy. India could get a little upset with us if we completely abolish the 13th Amendment. In our region, friendship with India is very important to Sri Lanka and should be strengthened by all governments. Abolishing provincial councils is like playing with fire.
How do you see the 20th amendment from this government, of which you are a member and which gives the President extensive powers? Months after you took office in 2015, the 19th amendment limiting the President’s executive powers was passed.
I do not like the fact that the 19th amendment has been removed. Had I been President I would have changed the 19th amendment to strengthen it. I did not vote for the 20th amendment.
Why did your party support this?
It [20 A] is against my policy. Now the President has all the powers that the 20th Amendment gave him. I hope he will not abuse or abuse these powers. The Constitution gives you some powers, but it is the person in the seat who decides how those powers will be used.
You keep referring to democracy. In your most recent speech, too, you spoke of many governments sliding towards authoritarianism, where the rights of minorities are threatened. How do you see the Sri Lankan context?
As a majority ethnic group, it is our responsibility to constantly give serious thought to the minorities that are part of this country. It is a fact that in Sri Lanka the Sinhalese are the majority. With this in mind, we must ensure that Tamils, Muslims and citizens have the same rights as minorities.
Take, for example, the question of the mandatory cremation of victims of COVID-19. Muslims must be given the right to bury relatives who have succumbed to her. the WHO [World Health Organization] says it is possible to bury. As a former Minister of Health, I stand by WHO’s opinion.
You cannot develop the country if minority sentiments are hurt. We have to ensure that democracy and economic development are shared equally by all ethnic groups in this country. Buddhist philosophy offers us a comprehensive guide to the principle of equality.
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