You have been a member and Minister of the Western Provincial Council (WPC) for many years. Do you think the council has worked to its full potential to serve the people of the area during this time?
I have been a member of the WPC for 15 years of which I have served for ten years as a minister. I believe if the PC operates in accordance with the powers entrusted to it under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, as well as the powers vested under the concurrent list, the PC can carry out a tremendous amount of work.
We have done that. In many instances the PCs themselves have failed to enact the necessary charters to use their powers.
When you take this election, will it be the war, or economic factors that will influence voters?
Terrorism has hindered development in the country for many years. It affected economic progress as well social development. People are fed up with the war and are satisfied with actions the President has taken to eradicate terrorism.
It has become the priority for the people in the country.
There is a well educated and well informed population living in the WPC. They have a strong belief that once terrorism is eradicated the country will move towards rapid development. On the economic front too the government has done it’s best to provide relief to the people. The government has brought down the prices of many essential goods including domestic gas, dhal, rice etc.
In the Gampaha district, we have seen a lot of in-fighting between candidates of the UPFA for preferential votes?
Not only in the Gampaha district, this problem is everywhere. Under the election system created by J.R. Jayewradene, if a husband and wife contest the poll from the same party, by the time the election is over, they will be divorced.
It affects candidates of all parties as they all vie for preferential votes. But in this poll, I can say things are better than in previous provincial polls held in the district.
Some of UPFA supporters including MP Sarana Gunawardena have been accused of involvement in various election related acts of violence. What is your reaction to these allegations?
There were two incidents and the police are taking necessary action in connection with them.
Investigations are underway and in the future we can see their progress.
Are you confident of a convincing victory for the UPFA in the Gampaha district?
We will receive the highest recorded percentage of votes the Gampaha district ever obtained in any previous election in the district. The victory in the WPC will be as convincing as the one secured by the government in the Wayamba PC polls. |
E-mail