The Sunday Times speaks to the PA and UNP Chief Ministerial candidates for Wayamba

• For a vibrant Wayamba
• 'Will rise again as the rice bowl'

For a vibrant Wayamba

By Chris Kamalendran

UNP's chief ministerial candidate Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, well experienced in provincial politics, says he is offering the people a plan to take a highly developed Wayamba with its own vibrant economy into the 21st century. Mr. Perera appealed to the people, human rights groups and even foreign diplomats to help in ensuring a free and fair poll. Excerpts:

Q: What will be the thrust of your campaign ?

A: Our campaign will be non-violent and we won't condone violence by anyone. Our thrust will be against the corruption and inefficiency in the PA Government, the decline of the economy and the breaking of promises.

We have developed Wayamba and we are confident of winning it. We can loudly proclaim that the PA had done little or nothing for Wayamba. The PA has power and has put ministers in charge of every electorate. But we will take Wayamba and carry the province into the next century with dynamic development projects.

Q: What are you promising to the people of Wayamba?

A: We have rapid development programmes for the next 25 years. We want to have duty-free shops like at the airport. The World Bank's first integrated rural development project was in Kurunegala during my term as district minister. We achieved the target in five years.

Q: Will the top UNP leaders be joining the campaign?

A: Yes, they can't let me down. I have sacrificed much. Our leader Ranil Wickramesinghe and I came to politics the same year. They can't let down the people. We must throw everything into the campaign.

Q: The UNP has been in control of Wayamba for a decade. Explain exactly what you have done or what were the problems you faced.

A: We had better project proposals than any other province. But our major obstacle was the governor. He blocked our funds. When we want to appoint or transfer an officer, he blocked it. The Governor's loyalties are more to the Central government than to the province. That was the main problem the Provincial Council faced.

Q: Are you confident of winning and do you fear violence or malpractices?

A: Yes. As usual, PA thugs will come from outside and try to threaten the voters. But the will of the people will prevail and we will accept the verdict of the people. The President may have got a historic 61 percent in November 1994, but it came down to 48 percent three years later and that too with a lot of thuggery and malpractices. We will be asking human rights activists and foreign diplomats to monitor the situation to prevent violence.

'Will rise again as the rice bowl'

The PA's chief ministerial candidate Sarath Nawinna is outlining new agricultural vistas to renew Wayamba's ancient glory as the rice bowl of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Nawinna who resigned as deputy minister to lead the PA team in the NWP poll charged that the decision of the UNP to send Gamini Jayawickrema Perera there was a sign of impending violence. Excerpts:

Q: What is your basic plan for the campaign?

A: This task was entrusted to me suddenly. It was a request made by the President. Despite the short notice we are finalising plans and we are confident of victory. I believe that through the provincial council I could do more for the people of Wayamba than through the Central government. That is why I resigned from my post as a deputy minister and took up this challenge in the province.

Q: What are you promising the people?

A: During the era of terror, Wayamba was the worst affected. The PA ended the terror and brought peace to Wayamba in 1994. We promised to ensure that the peaceful atmosphere will continue.

In terms of the economy, we have plans to renew the ancient glory of Wayamba as the rice bowl of Sri Lanka. For this we will build more reservoirs and provide other facilities while developing education and infrastructure.

Q: Will you get the full support from the central government?

A: Certainly. The President herself will join the campaign. A cabinet minister has been appointed to be in charge of every electorate in the province. We are throwing our full weight behind it. I know the people of the Wayamba will act intelligently and give us a chance to build a dynamic Wayamba.

Q: What are you doing to prevent violence?

A: The incidents after nominations were provoked or carried out by the UNP to discredit the PA. We will do everything to ensure a peaceful vote. The President has given orders to this effect. But I fear the UNP's decision to send Gamini Jayawickrema Perera back to Wayamba is a sign of impending violence.

Q: The UNP says the governor was an obstacle to effective provincial administration. What is your view?

A: We need to streamline the process to take away duplication and double work. For instance I laid the foundation stones for 12 roads in Wayamba but only two were completed because of a clash of interest between central and provincial administration.

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