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Friday, 14 August 2015 04:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Q: We are only three days away from the general election 2015. How confident are you about UPFA winning the election?
A: I think we are in a very good position. I am certain that UPFA is going to win with majority of seats in Parliament. 
There is a very close competition in Colombo District but I think within the next two to three days we will be able to win over more voters and UPFA will definitely win Colombo District too.
Q: How successful was your election campaign?
A: I started my election campaign quite early. My main way of campaigning was house-to-house campaigning and it was done very carefully and in a planned manner. This way I was able to meet a lot of voters. I am quite confident that I will win this election under the UPFA.
Q: Do you believe UPFA can form a government?
A: Definitely. UPFA will win the election and we will get the majority of Parliamentary seats. UPFA will get more than 113 seats.
Q: But social media is carrying studies that say UNP will get more seats than the UPFA.
A: Similarly there are other studies that say that UPFA would win. What we see when we go to the grass root level is that UPFA is well ahead of the UNP.
Q: You served as the Deputy Minister of Education during the Rajapaksa regime. One of the biggest allegations against your administration is the downfall of the education sector in the country. How do you response to these allegations?
A: Actually it was after three decades of war, the country was restoring in many ways and after gaining peace we had to march towards development of the country. Our Government was compelled to start from a very low key. I actually admit that the initial allocation for education when taken as a percentage of the GDP was very less. But annually the amount of money allocated for education was increased. On the other hand we were able to manage with whatever the money allocated with lot of productive and efficient manner. With that money we did vast amount of development work.
We started the 1,000 secondary school development project and the 5,000 primary school development project. Then we carried out Mahindodaya technological laboratory project and we have already completed all 1,000 laboratories with equipment. We established technology stream at the advance level; now we have five streams. We brought in vocational training and technological studies into the general educational system. This is another turning point in the education system. We collected proposals from different stakeholders in education and we compiled a policy proposal. Everybody endorsed that document and it was submitted to the cabinet. It was then presented to the committee of senior ministers to proceed further. I think this was another major achievement by our Government.
Meanwhile under the Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development we started establishing university colleges, a totally new system to our country. We wanted to start 25 university colleges out of which we started and finished six; one in Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Kuliyapitiya, Ampara, Matara and Ratmalana. These university colleges offer Bachelor of Technology Degree courses. These courses not only offer theoretical knowledge but give the practical knowledge on how to work. We also train them in soft skills computer skills and communication skills. These university colleges helps them to develop real craftsmen who can work in industries and establish new industries so that they can generate new jobs in our country.
Some may only talk about the few negative things that happened in the education sector but the truth is we have done a lot to develop the education system.
Q: Which group do you belong to, team Rajapaksa or team Sirisena?
A: There are no two camps in the UPFA. There is only one camp. When you consider the Parliamentary election there is only and that is Mahinda Rajapaksa. All UPFA members support Mahinda Rajapaksa in this election.
Q: If the UPFA forms a government who will be your Prime Minister?
A: Honourable Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Q: But didn’t President Sirisena openly say Rajapaksa will not be given the prime-ministership?
A: Earlier President Sirisena said that he would not give nomination to Mahinda Rajapaksa. But things have changed. Our present President is a very democratic leader. I respect him very much. When we take the Constitution we have to offer the premiership to the person who wins the trust of the highest number of members of the Parliament. When it comes to that situation inevitably President Sirisena will have to give that position to Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Q: Lastly, tell us why someone would vote for Mohan Lal Grero?
A: I am a clean politician. I have proved myself as an educationalist. That is my forte. For an example the first Mahindodaya Technological Laboratory was developed by me. It was built by me using my personal money. We actually spend from our own pocket to work for the country. We always represent people and try to serve in our best way. My only objective in politics is to become the Minister of Education and change the education system which will help to elevate the level of our students in future. So that they can surface us and march towards success. We expect no other gain from politics. Lot of people know about this. That is why I am certain that people will vote for me.
Q: If the UPFA fails to form a government will you support the United National Font for Good Governance to establish a national government?
A: That question won’t arise because the UNP and its allies will never win. I am 100% confident about that.
