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Q: What are your views about the recently-concluded provincial council election?
A: It is clear that UNP has performed very well. Our party managed to secure the votes we had last time. Our votes were not reduced. In the Western Province, last time we contested with Mano Ganesan; the UNP got 12 seats and Mano got three seats. This time Mano contested alone; we got 12 seats and he got only two seats. In Colombo District, last time we had 42 seats. Because the population reduced, two seats went to Gampaha. In 2009 the UNP got 15 seats out of 42. This time from 40 seats we have got 12 seats. This proves we have done our job well and therefore managed to keep the voters with us. As far as the Government is concerned, their numbers of seats were reduced from 25 to 18. This is a defeat for the Government. This is a signal for the Government that the people no longer have faith in them. From Western and Southern Province, they have lost nearly 19 seats.
"It is clear that the Government cannot cheat the people. They are no longer in a position to talk about Geneva and international threats to win elections. Unless the Government provides a real solution to the people and take measures to uplift present socioeconomic conditions, they will not be able to remain in power for long
All these hardline political parties are supported by the Government. Before the elections hardline groups like Bodu Bala Sena and Sihala Ravaya become active. They are politically, legally and financially supported by the Government. The two seats obtained by the Hela Urumaya were because of the Government. I strongly believe that if they contested alone they will not get any seats. The majority of the Sri Lankans don’t like these hardline groups. They don’t have any people’s support. President Mahinda Rajapaksa strongly believes that he needs support of the extremists
We have to wait for a national election to topple the Government. For the last two to three years, we have spoken about human rights issues; we have got together other small parties and organised a lot of demonstrations and campaigns. Nobody can say we haven’t done anything. We have done our part. But we can do more. May be we have not done enough. Let’s wait and see what will happen at the national level election"
During the last week of the election the Government tried to gain political mileage out of the Geneva issue. But it has not had any impact. They said many stories; they even said that President would be taken to the international courts as a war criminal. But people didn’t listen to any of those stories; election results have proved it. It is clear that the Government cannot cheat the people. They are no longer in a position to talk about Geneva and international threats to win elections. Unless the Government provides a real solution to the people and take measures to uplift present socioeconomic conditions, they will not be able to remain in power for long.
The next election will be a turning point. The background and environment is now being prepared. All the social forces are now rallying against the Government. They want a change. This time people didn’t go to vote but at the next election people will vote against the Government.
Q: Why did Mano Ganesan decide to contest alone? How did this move affect UNP votes? 
A: I think Mano Ganesan made a mistake. In 2009, Mano Ganesan contested with UNP. Our party got 12 seats and Mano got three seats. This time he contested alone; we got 12 seats and he only got two seats. If he contested with us, he could have got another seat. The majority of the Tamil people have voted for Mano. During the last few years he was active and spoke about issues related to Tamils. Colombo and Jaffna Tamils supported him. TNA supported him. We saw TNA’s Vigneswaran on Mano’s platform. But when the presidential election comes, all those voters will vote for the UNP.
Q: You have been a provincial councillor for the last five years but newcomer S.M. Marikkar scored the highest number of votes in Colombo. Does this mean you have failed as a politician and were unable to fulfil your duties and therefore unpopular among people?
A: The preferential system is worse than gambling. It is a funny mechanism; you will never know what the end result would be. And if you want to obtain the highest number of votes you should be able to spend a lot of money. One should never compare politicians like us with individuals like Marikkar. I got 42,000 preferential votes because I have done a lot of work for my people and to my community. I got 25,000 from Colombo Central and 17,000 from other parts. I have done so much for the people and they have shown me their gratitude. I am happy and satisfied about my victory. On the other hand, when a new face comes, people tend to vote for them and see whether they could make a difference. Look at all the media support he got. We never got any media support. Everyone knows about these things. You should never compare us with Marikkar. It’s a different game altogether. Let’s see how things will be in future. Let’s see whether these people can survive in the long run.
Q: Although you claim people no longer have faith in the Government, the present regime has marked a clear victory and there is no significant change in the UNP votes. Do you agree?
A: Provincial council elections are not government changing elections. A large number of people didn’t come to vote because this was just a provincial council election. This is the kind of attitude they have towards provincial council elections. But when it comes to the presidential election it will be a different scenario.
According to Minister G.L. Pieris in Geneva the majority abstained from voting in support of Sri Lankan Government. Based on his theory when it comes to the provincial council elections, people didn’t turn up for the elections. So those people who didn’t vote are against the Government. How can Government say this is a victory for them? As far as I am concerned, I am satisfied with what I have got. Not only UNP, even the JVP and General Fonseka’s party has got good votes. It is the Government that lost by coming down to 18 seats from the previous 25 seats in the Colombo District. It is not going to be easy for the Government in the next election. They claim they carried out so much development work. But people are not affected. People don’t feel it. This is why I say the Government is in a tight spot.
Q: What do you think about performance of the JVP?
A: The JVP has performed better than the previous times. They have got more votes. But they are not a threat to the UNP. Even General Fonseka’s party has performed alright. But the UNP votes were not reduced. JVP and Fonseka’s party has got Government votes. That is why we see a significant decrease in the Government votes. But when it comes to a national election, people will vote for the UNP because people know the JVP or General Fonseka’s party can’t change the Government.
Q: You talk about winning the presidential election. But the UNP has still not solved its internal crisis. We don’t see any improvement in the party. Your comments?
A: When in the Opposition, any political party will come across problems, internal issues, breakaways. This is not something new or something that has only happened to the UNP. But after the appointing of the Leadership Council almost 90% of the problems have been sorted out. There are few remaining issues. But in the time to come we will be able to solve them too.
But we are ready to face the next national level election. Organisers have already started their work. We have started to work at the party grassroot level. We will try to get other Opposition parties into one platform. That is our foremost objective to work with all the Opposition parties.
Q: Do you think the JVP and Fonseka’s party will ally with the UNP to contest as a common Opposition?
A: I don’t know about the JVP’s stand but Fonseka has already made few statements indicating that he is willing work with us.
Q: Do you feel people have rejected hardline political parties?
A: All these hardline political parties are supported by the Government. Before the elections hardline groups like Bodu Bala Sena and Sihala Ravaya become active. They are politically, legally and financially supported by the Government. The two seats obtained by the Hela Urumaya were because of the Government. I strongly believe that if they contested alone they will not get any seats. The majority of the Sri Lankans don’t like these hardline groups. They don’t have any people’s support. President Mahinda Rajapaksa strongly believes that he needs support of the extremists. Udaya Gammanpila was Colombo District group leader. He is an extremist. He openly attacked Muslims and Tamils. He is against the provincial council system. He is against devolution of power. Yet the President appoints him as the group leader. Why can’t he find a person from the SLFP? This is because he wants to get the Sinhala Buddhist votes in Maharagama, Homagama and Avissawella.
We should not forget about the SLMC and Rishad Bathiudeen’s party too. Both these parties contested alone to break the Muslim vote. Bathiudeen’s native place is Mannar; he didn’t contest alone from his own party in Mannar. He contested under the UPFA. But he comes to Colombo and contest under his own party. This clearly shows that this Government is working with all types of extremist groups; they have Muslim extremist groups and Sinhalese extremist groups.
Aggression towards the Muslims has not completely stopped. Even during the elections two to three incidents took place in Colombo. The President is not interested in ending these incidents. If the Government truly wants to stop these harassments against Muslims, they can do it. But they don’t want to do it simply because they are trying to gain political mileage out of these incidents. Both Rauff Hakeem and Rishad Bathiudeen are Cabinet Ministers. They can influence the Government to take immediate actions against these attacks. But what did they do? They kept their mouths shut. When the election approaches, Hakeem starts to talk. During election time Hakeem is against the Government. That is only to get the Muslim vote. But people were too smart. Now that the election is over he is once again friendly with the President and the Government. All these people work for their own benefit.
Bodu Bala Sena and Rauff Hakeem are all the same. They are only there to safeguard the President and his Government. They don’t care about the Sinhalese or the Muslims. During election time they try to create tension among communal groups. This is purely to gain political mileage. Now that the war is over, they want to create some tension in order to keep the Sinhalese Buddhist extremist votes.
Q: If this regime is so unpopular among the people, why can’t the UNP topple this Government?
A: We have to wait for a national election to topple the Government. For the last two to three years, we have spoken about human rights issues; we have got together other small parties and organised a lot of demonstrations and campaigns. Nobody can say we haven’t done anything. We have done our part. But we can do more. May be we have not done enough. Let’s wait and see what will happen at the national level election.
