'Crimes against the Nation will be probed'
by Zacki Jabbar
Widely described as a Friend of the Poor, the National Democratic Front’s Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa has pledged to serve the masses 24 hours a day. In this interview with The Island he speaks of his vision for Sri Lanka.
Minister Sajith Premadasa, if elected President on November 16, what would your priorities be, in the first hundred days?
A: As the title of my manifesto indicates, "There is no limit to what my nation can achieve". My highest priority would, of course, be to lay the foundation for creating a strong and secure nation and a disciplined society in which the rule of law, justice, fair play and equality are upheld. I will immediately accomplish this task by appointing a Cabinet of Ministers as per the provisions of our Constitution and allocate subjects and functions to Ministers on a rational basis. My next task would be the launching of a growth oriented economic programme including the correction of economic fundamentals (trade balance, fiscal discipline, debt burden etc). This will be combined with a relief package for the needy, based on the pledges made during the campaign, but sensitive to the constraints of the economy.
Several other priorities listed in my manifesto, such as the establishment of a new Presidential Task Force for National Development, formulation of a National Security Strategy together with the drafting of a New National Intelligence Act, appointment of a Parliamentary Commissioner on standards and ethics, introduction of an empowered Competition Commission to ensure a level playing field for all businesses, strengthening the Anti-dumping Law, establishment of a dedicated National Police Unit to solely investigate and prevent sexual harassment, increasing the Government allowance for pregnant women, establishment of a Department of Veteran’s Affairs to serve veterans of the security forces and their families, creation of a Department of Senior Citizens’ Affairs, introduction of a free annual medical check-up to all those over 35 years, establishment of a fund for film producers, introduction of a special Senior Citizens’ discount on all state owned buses and trains, establishment of a fund to create jobs for the youth, setting up of a fund to support film makers, the introduction of a new Public Finance Management Act, the appointment of standing Cabinet sub-committees for economic and social policy, national security and foreign affairs and the establishment of a Monitoring & Evaluation Unit within the Cabinet Office reporting to the President, will be specifically undertaken and fulfilled within the first 100 days.
How do you view each government blaming the previous one for Sri Lanka’s rising debt burden and what would you do to resolve it ?
A: A country, especially a developing country like ours, needs to borrow to finance its development priorities, more so, as we need to compete in the modern world. Our capacity to borrow however, would be limited during the next few years by the heavy debt service burden resulting from the irresponsible waste of borrowed capital and insidious corruption in the management of loan funds prior to 2015. Since the heavy debt service burden of sovereign loans cannot be avoided, I will ensure that future borrowings are invested only in key national priorities, avoid high interest borrowings, eradicate corruption and waste in the management of borrowed funds, improve Government to Government assistance through cordial international relations, enhance the attraction of Foreign Direct Investments, through rational economic reforms, promoting economic stability and the provision of incentive for exports. All these efforts will be combined with a focused drive to increase and improve production in all sectors of the economy.
The UNP-led Common Opposition Front came to power in January 2015, pledging to bring to book politicians and officials in the Rajapaksa government accused of massive corruption and heinous crimes such as murder, but nearly five years on, not one of them has been held accountable. Why is the question on almost everyone’s lips ?
A: The experience during the past five years has convinced me that institutional weaknesses including the lack of capacity, weaknesses and loopholes in the execution, combined with political manipulations, corrupt behaviour and willful negligence have delayed the administration of justice. Even when charges have been filed, deliberate lapses in charge sheets have allowed criminals to escape punishment. However, I am firmly of the view that crimes against the Nation should be punished to prevent recurrence by those who hold office in the future. I consider this my responsibility to the people, whose assets have been swindled. It would be a priority of mine to address these shortcomings and bring the culprits to justice meting out the maximum punishments they deserve.
Would you agree with the governments critics, who have described the Treasury Bond issues of February 2015 and March 2016 as the biggest financial scam in Sri Lanka’s history ?
A: It is my personal opinion that this has been an ongoing crime committed with the blessings of the high and the mighty during the Rajapaksa regime and that it took a serious turn during the early days of the current government with the appointment of those with family ties to the operators of the scam.
How do you propose to at least minimize corruption in the State sector, since rooting it out, has proved to be near impossible ?
A: Corruption is endemic in the public service the world over. That however is no excuse to let bribery and sleaze debase the public services of my country. The response however, should not be limited to better detection and heavy punishment. I will improve transparency in the delivery of public services, through performance standards, wider use of information technology in service delivery and improved public access to information. I will also focus on minimizing opportunities for intimidation and delays in widely known areas for corruption such as the infrastructure sector. Under my Presidency, no one will be above the law. We will build a new political culture where those in the highest office will be accountable. I will also establish a centralized data base of Assets declarations and ensure a proper verification process.
The Sri Lankan economy should have been galloping with the end of a near three decade war with the LTTE, on May 18, 2009. Instead it was corruption and the crime rate that zoomed to new heights. Would you agree that the root cause for this is the failure to apply the law fairly to all citizens alike?
A: I agree. I believe that intimidation and corruption, coupled with a sense of impunity, at the highest levels of the Government and tolerance and indifference at lesser levels reached excruciating levels during the period after May, 2009. I am convinced that the incapacity and incompetence in the administration of justice even after the ouster of the criminal elements from positions of power, gave the lesser officials the opportunity to continue such practices. I wish to reiterate here that the war on corruption will begin at home. I will not protect any corrupt member of my Government or my Party.
The end of the war was welcomed with a sense of relief by all peace loving people, but instead of peace, reconciliation and prosperity, we witnessed a new trend of planned attacks on religious minorities. Does this not indicate that some of our politicians and religious leaders have obviously not learned any lessons from the war?
A: I see this as political expediency rather than the inability to learn. There is no other way to explain how those familiar champions of social hatred, who on a daily basis influenced inter-racial hatred and ethnic violence, can get onto a public stage today and blame the Government for indifference towards Tamil and Muslim communities. They are the same people who were raucous and critical whenever a step towards reconciliation was taken, or an acre of land released, or when the Office of Missing Persons was created sometimes even at a silly level. We need to end this hippocratic and divisive politics and move forward as a nation where peace and harmony prevails. It is my pledge to create a democratic and pluralistic society in which the rights of all people are protected and beliefs of all people are respected.
The Constitutional provision enabling Opposition MP’s to cross over to the government while retaining their seats has made a mockery of parliamentary democracy and robbed in effect the people of their franchise, which was being sold by politicians as if it was a commodity. What would you do to rectify this injustice caused to the voters?
A: Yes, I agree that this has robbed in effect the people of their franchise and has also given rise to intimidation, intrigue and corruption. I will totally support the revisiting of this provision.
Eliminating poverty has been a key theme of your campaign. Could you outline how it would be done?
A: Yes, the elimination of poverty will be a key component of my agenda for the Nation. We will combine the best elements of Samurdhi and Janasaviya, increasing the value of Samurdhi payments and expanding the number of recipients. This scheme will be subject to strict legislation and close monitoring to ensure that only those truly deserving of help receive it.
Do you favour the current government completing its full term or Parliament being dissolved six months prior to the next General Election, as provided for in the Constitution ?
A: As you are aware, I am contesting the presidential election as the nominee of my party as well as of a broader political alliance. The timing of parliamentary polls will essentially be a collective and considered decision, which will also take cognition of the strength of the mandate that I receive
How confident are you of winning the presidential election ?
A: I am leading a battle against family dictatorship, nepotism, corruption, pettiness and hypocrisy. I have pledged to leave no one behind, ensure equity and eradicate poverty in achieving sustainable and inclusive national prosperity. Therefore, I am totally confident of the unstinted support of the electorate and my victory at the coming hustings.
I believe that I have the passion and energy, commitment and determination, to achieve results within timelines. I have walked and worked with the people, felt their pulse, and nurtured a distant rural electorate. Having been in Parliament for more than two decades, I have practiced and indeed protected parliamentary procedure, respected the Constitution, complied with administrative and financial regulations of the Government, whilst maintaining the highest levels of integrity at all times. I believe in an economically strong, growth oriented, technologically advanced Sri Lanka, which is socially conscious and politically stable. I will lead the country towards prosperity through social equality and inclusive growth. I invite all citizens, young and old, female and male, rural, urban and estate, to join hands with me to build a truly progressive Nation that leaves no one behind. Let us march forward together.
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