தவறவிடாதீர்கள்..!உடனே பதிவு செய்யுங்கள்

N. THANUJA

What have these Tamil leaders achieved by repeatedly demanding 'federalism'? They remain stuck in the same place." In the past, election campaigns in the North and East would pit the West against the East and the South against the North. However, this time, there is no such situation. All three major candidates are campaigning on national issues without racism. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake all agree that the 13th Amendment must be implemented. The Tamil people living in the North and East should also be part of the governance process. Therefore, Tamil leaders should seize this highly favorable opportunity, says Ali Sabry, Minister of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Prisons, and Constitutional Reforms.

With the upcoming ninth presidential election scheduled for September 21st, in an exclusive interview with the "Virakesari" weekly edition, Minister Ali Sabry shared his views on the election campaign, the leadership qualities of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, a political solution for the Tamils, the background of the mandatory cremation policy, and several other topics. Below is the full transcript of the interview with the Minister.

Question: Despite coming to power with a two-thirds majority in 2019, your government couldn't hold on to power for even two more years. What was the reason for your government's failure to maintain its position despite such a strong majority?

Answer: There are multiple reasons for this. The main one is the economic crisis the country had to face. Our country's foreign reserves primarily relied on three factors: exports, remittances, and tourism. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and some policy decisions led to a sharp decline in foreign reserves.

The decision to maintain the rupee's value at 203 per dollar, excessive tax cuts, and the abrupt switch from chemical fertilizers to organic fertilizers were policy decisions that significantly impacted the economy. Additionally, the large debts inherited from previous governments, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war were also contributing factors to this crisis, in my opinion.

Question: Following this crisis, the 'Aragalaya' protest movement emerged in 2022, leading to the rejection of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the people. Subsequently, your party had to turn to a leader from another party to take responsibility for the country due to the absence of a suitable leader within your own party. However, that leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, had previously been defeated in the parliamentary elections. Why did you believe that the policies of someone rejected by the people would help rescue the country?

Answer: In reality, the policies that aimed to satisfy the people were the ones that led to this crisis. Therefore, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is currently demonstrating that the country cannot move forward solely through slogans and policies aimed at appeasement. He has done this not once but three times. After the death of President Premadasa in 1993, when there was a leadership vacuum in the country, Ranil Wickremesinghe provided the necessary leadership. He did the same during the severe economic crisis in 1999-2000. Given this historical context, we believed he was the right person to restore the country in 2022.

Usually, if the ruling party cannot govern, the responsibility is handed over to the opposition. Accordingly, we also gave the opposition a chance. At that time, the opposition leader suggested sending the Governor of the Central Bank and the Secretary to the Treasury for negotiations. On May 10, 2022, we sent Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Mahinda Siriwardana for negotiations. They met with opposition members led by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, including Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, and Kabir Hashim, and discussed for three hours.

Subsequently, Harsha de Silva posted on his Twitter account, stating that the country was in a dire situation and that no one could take responsibility for rescuing it. So, when the opposition, considering their political future, refrained from taking responsibility, President Ranil Wickremesinghe took responsibility for the country, even if it meant personal loss or harm to his properties. You can see the changes that have taken place compared to the situation in 2022. Therefore, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has proven that he is capable.

As far as my political philosophy is concerned, the country comes first, the party second, and myself third. I can face some losses for the party. However, if anyone expects the country to face losses for the sake of the party, I cannot agree with that. We are engaged in politics for the country. We have not earned even five cents through politics. Therefore, we will do anything for the country. We will do it with anyone.

Question: Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Basil Rajapaksa, who are considered responsible for the economic crisis, have been named by the Supreme Court. You were ministers in the cabinet led by them, and later, you were ministers in the cabinet led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe as well. Yet, you were able to somewhat rescue the country from the previous crisis. Does this mean that the previous situation was due to a lack of leadership?

Answer: I agree that there was a lack of leadership to some extent. Because if anyone says that all these crises happened only within the two years after we came to power, I cannot accept that. The debts accumulated over 76 years were left in our hands. Until then, there was a practice of taking large loans and repaying small amounts. However, after 2020, we reached a situation where we couldn't repay the loans, and no one was willing to lend to us. Moreover, there were some policy decisions that led to setbacks.

Nevertheless, in such a crisis, suitable leadership is essential. Experience in managing the economy is necessary. Experience in dealing with foreign countries is necessary. Only Ranil Wickremesinghe can contact Samantha Power or the Japanese Foreign Minister on the phone and secure their support. In an election, someone will undoubtedly win. That's not important. What is important is how that person will govern the country after winning. Therefore, I agree that President Ranil Wickremesinghe's leadership is crucial for the country's economic recovery.

Question: However, many members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, who were rejected by the people in 2022, are now supporting Ranil Wickremesinghe as an independent candidate in this presidential election. Doesn't contesting with the support of those rejected by the people become a setback for President Ranil Wickremesinghe?

Answer: It does not become a setback for him. It is easy to say that the people rejected them. But the same people who were accepted by the people in 2020 were rejected by them in 2022. Two more years have passed since then. So we need to consider that too. Compared to 2022, we have made changes in foreign relations, foreign reserves, the economic situation, and many other areas. Through our reform process, we have rebuilt the country. Moreover, President Ranil Wickremesinghe sees all Sri Lankan people, whether Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, or Catholic, equally. Therefore, he is not afraid to openly say that he will implement the 13th Amendment. He says he will grant land rights. He says we will discuss police powers.

He has been Prime Minister six times. But what can a Prime Minister do in this country? In Sri Lanka, to do anything progressive, one must be the President. Ranil Wickremesinghe is now the President. Therefore, you should see how his leadership is from there. If there is anyone among the candidates contesting this time who can rebuild the country in every way, tell me. At this moment, we believe that the country needs Ranil Wickremesinghe more than Ranil Wickremesinghe needs the country.

Question: You mentioned that the President publicly stated that the 13th Amendment would be implemented. However, Tamil nationalist political leaders are demanding federalism, and no assurance has been given on that front. As a result, a Tamil common candidate has been fielded in this presidential election. Do you understand the message they are trying to convey to you?

Answer: Yes, we understand. However, this is not a new message. Since 1948, Tamil leaders have been advocating for federalism, but what have they achieved? They are still in the same position. Therefore, we urge Tamil political leaders to first secure the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and win the trust of the Tamil people.

In the past, election campaigns often pitted the East against the West and the South against the North. But this time, the situation is different. All three main candidates are discussing national issues in their campaigns without ethnic bias. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake all support implementing the 13th Amendment. The Tamil people living in the North and East should also be a part of governance. Therefore, Tamil leaders should seize this opportune moment.

There has been a war in Sri Lanka for nearly 30 years, so the Sinhalese people are naturally fearful. They worry that if police powers are given to the Tamil people now, they might use them to clash with the government again. Similarly, the Tamil diaspora still speaks of a "separate country." In such a context, not everything can be achieved in one day. So, we must first secure what we can and then move towards the next step. European countries that fought in the First and Second World Wars have now united to form the European Union. Who are we in comparison?

All Sri Lankans—Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim—can freely travel anywhere in the country. Free education and healthcare are provided to everyone. Therefore, there are many positive aspects here. If we only focus on the negatives, we can debate them for years. So, Tamil leaders, join the government, take responsibility, and use the power you gain to help your regions.

Secure essential services for your people through the central government's allocations. But Tamil leaders have only criticized all these years. Criticizing is easy. We can't always remain prisoners of the past. So, let's use this opportunity now and move forward together.

If trust is built between the Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim people, I believe they will even accept federalism. I don't agree with Muslim leaders forming Muslim parties or Tamil leaders forming Tamil parties. Instead, everyone should engage in national politics.

Lakshman Kadirgamar's policy was that all Sri Lankans should live together. He didn't criticize from the outside. Instead, he stood within the Cabinet and fought for the rights of all Sri Lankans, including Tamils.

We rehabilitated 12,197 former LTTE combatants without punishing them. This includes those who attacked the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Therefore, we shouldn't remain stuck in the past.

Question: If Ranil Wickremesinghe is re-elected as President, can you guarantee that the 13th Amendment, including police powers, will be fully implemented, and that negotiations towards federalism will be pursued?

Answer: Such a guarantee cannot be provided. We are prepared to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in its current form. The extent of police powers to be granted needs to be discussed. First, secure this. The Supreme Court has indicated that the right to discuss federalism remains with the Tamils. So, discussions on that can continue. There is fear among the Sinhalese people. Individuals like Pazha Nedumaran and Seeman in India say one thing, while others in Canada say another. None of them engage in politics in their countries; they do so here. So, if Sinhalese people are expected to forget everything and give everything to the Tamils, that won't happen.

Question: Recently, the entire Cabinet apologized for the forced cremations of Muslims who died from COVID-19, four years after the event. Was this sudden apology motivated by the upcoming election?

Answer: This didn't happen suddenly. The issue of forced cremation occurred in 2020. The Easter Sunday attacks took place in 2019, leading to a nationwide anti-Muslim sentiment. Muslim leaders stood united in the following election. Against this backdrop, a special committee, including medical experts, recommended the forced cremation of bodies of those who died from COVID-19. The media also supported this. The prevailing anti-Muslim sentiment contributed to this decision. At that time, I was the only one in the Cabinet who strongly opposed this. It was only through intense effort and the special committee I appointed that these changes have occurred. However, this is not known to those observing from the outside. Regardless, I have come to understand the necessity of having minority Tamil and Muslim representatives in the Cabinet.

We need to learn from such incidents. Accordingly, we have drafted a bill that ensures the right to bury or cremate bodies according to their faiths in future situations, unless the World Health Organization recommends otherwise.

Question: On August 30, the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances was observed. Relatives of those who disappeared in the North and East have been protesting for over 2,000 days, seeking truth and justice. However, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' recent report expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the Office on Missing Persons. What firm decisions are you going to take to resolve this issue?

Answer: Although it has been claimed that hundreds of thousands have disappeared, according to data from the United Nations and the International Red Cross, the number of missing persons between 1990 and 2009 is around 14,500. Between 2000 and 2009, about 6,027 people went missing. The Office on Missing Persons was established to find out what happened to them. Therefore, affected individuals should approach the office. However, some say that the Office on Missing Persons will not achieve anything and that they will not seek its help. But today, 96% of the affected individuals have approached the office. Politicians and civil society can say whatever they want, but only the victims need solutions. That's why they have turned to the Office on Missing Persons. It will take some time to advance and achieve progress.

Question: Finally, what message would you like to convey to the people who will vote in the upcoming 9th Presidential election on September 21?

Answer: This time, people should not vote based on emotions. Instead, they should think about who can govern the country effectively after winning the election and vote accordingly. There is a tendency among the youth to want to oppose the current system. But they must decide whether change should advance the current state or push it back further.