Even if SLFP and UNP contest separately they

must govern the State together

2017-12-08
Says Convener of National Movement for a Just Society Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya
referring to those representing the Joint Opposition and hoping to contest the
upcoming elections under the pohottuwa symbol

Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, convener of the National Movement for a Just Society,
in an interview with the Dailymirror aired his views on the setbacks of the
Yahapalanaya Government and expressed his thoughts on the upcoming
elections. Prof.Wijesooriya asserted that even though the UNP and the SLFP
contest separately they should govern the State together.
 The common candidate pledged to achieve most of these things within
100 days, but failed
We cant say that the Government has succeeded in fulfilling all these
expectations
There is no good governance where the rich and powerful are treated
differently
The Government has been weak in creating faith in the people
The police has to be independent for good governance to be realized
The constitution must impose a law that politicians cant enter into
business dealings with the State
The Government should protect public finances
The arrest of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has been halted
The Government should protect public finances
We will have no future if we isolate ourselves from the world

Q Have the expected objectives of the Yahapalanaya Government been

achieved during its tenure so far?

The law abiding citizens of this country had several

expectations when the Yahapalanaya Government was established. We cant say
that the Government has succeeded in fulfilling all

these expectations. There are certain admirable

things that have taken place. A constitutional assembly has been set up. The Right
to Information Act has been passed.
But the judiciary should be reorganized for good governance to be upheld. The
Governments response to this has been very weak. There is no good governance
where the rich and powerful are treated differently. The law has to be fair to all
citizens. In this context we see that the Government has been extremely tardy in
fulfilling the promises of 08 January.
In the election following the presidential election on 08 January, the majority of
citizens defeated nationalism and religious extremism which had assisted the
previous regime. Every citizen in the country hoped for a country where there is
liberty to live without being fearful of ones life. But we saw how Ven
Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera behaved in the presence of the judiciary. Then
he went into hiding. Religious extremism was propagated publicly. This
Government has provided protection to him. This shouldnt have happened. We
cant say that Yahapalanaya (good governance) has been achieved if the law is
executed differently with regard to monks, politicians or anyone else wielding
power. People should have faith in the Government. The Government has been
weak in creating faith in the people.

QThe faith placed in the Yahapalanaya Government by the public is lost now.
In this context what are the proposals that you would like to make for good
governance to be upheld?
Firstly, we have written to the President and the Prime Minister that a
commission should be appointed to study the judiciary. The commission should
comprise experts in the field of law. The commission should look into every
aspect of the judiciary. We know of how two or three former chief justices
conducted themselves. One chief justice publicly declared that the judgments he
gave were erroneous. Another chief justice was impeached and this was a
deplorable situation. These events showed us that the judiciary was politicized. So
this is why a commission is needed.
Secondly, the police has to be independent for good governance to be realized.
Those recruited to the police force should have some higher educational
qualifications. Whatever commission is appointed it is the police who can go to
courts against criminals and other offenders. So the police has to be a strong
institution. The qualifications which were required for recruitment sometime back
are no longer suitable in todays context. My personal opinion is that institutions
which conduct special investigations such as the Bribery Commission and the
Criminal Investigation Department should recruit science graduates. They should
be offered attractive salaries. Their infrastructure should be developed. The police
force should be built in such a manner that politicians will not be able to influence
them.
Politicians shouldnt be allowed to enter into business dealings with the
Government. Today we see how ministers are involved in state business and
contracts. So how can there be good governance? In the past there were laws
stating that politicians couldnt be involved in such business transactions.
Politicians do a public service
When the Yahapalanaya Government assumed power it promised to pass the
Audit Bill within 100 days. But the Government has still not been able to pass the
bill. Civil servants should be the protectors of state finances. If civil servants
oppose the bill being passed it implies that they support corruption. The
Government should protect public finances. So the passing of the Audit Bill is
necessary for good governance.
When handing over nominations for elections the two main parties should
conduct an assessment of the candidates. The candidates should possess certain
educational qualifications, a good character without a record of corruption, sexual
abuse etc and they should be people whom the public views with respect as
holding office in the legislature. It is disappointing that there is no such scheme.
Politicians shouldnt be allowed to enter into business dealings with the
Government. Today we see how ministers are involved in state business and
contracts. So how can there be good governance? In the past there were laws
stating that politicians couldnt be involved in such business transactions.
Politicians do a public service. But today politicians enter politics to do business.
This has to be stopped to achieve good governance.
When the Yahapalanaya Government assumed power it promised to pass the
Audit Bill within 100 days. But the Government has still not been able to pass the
bill. Civil servants should be the protectors of state finances. If civil servants
oppose the bill being passed it implies that they
support corruption
QYou said that there were laws in the past to prevent politicians from getting
involved in business transactions with the Government. What has happened to
those laws?
Those laws were of a high standard. As far as I know two or three ministers lost
their ministerial portfolios due to election petitions. One person had a petrol
shed. Another owned shares in a company.

QDuring which period was this?

This was before the 1978 constitution was promulgated. The people who
occupied the seats in parliament as representatives of the public were
honourable. Through the 1978 constitution politicians were presented with the
opportunity to do businesses and this facilitated the public representatives to
earn an unlimited amount of money. So no civilized person can contest at an
election because an enormous amount of money should be spent during election
campaigns. You need to earn money illegally to do these. This is why we assert
that the Constitution must impose a law that politicians cant enter into business
dealings with the State.

QAny other proposals?

The institutions which execute the law must be independent. Today the Bribery
Commission investigates into allegations of corruption and fraud. Investigations
are carried out by the CID and FCID as well. These officers investigate tirelessly,
but at the end they request permission from the President, the Prime Minister,
the Minister of Law and Order to arrest culprits. If they dont grant permission the
culprits cant be arrested. This has to stop. These institutions must be
independent. The arrest of Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa has been halted. This is a waste of the effort put in by the officers who
conducted the investigations. When such things happen even the officers
attached to these institutions can be demotivated. This isnt an investigation
involving a normal citizen. These investigations are about allegations against the
former defence secretary, the former first lady, the former Presidents children
and other powerful ministers. Investigating into these matters requires a lot of
hard work and it is complex. So these institutions must be truly independent.

QDo you think that these proposals can be achieved during the remaining
period of the
Yahapalanaya tenure?
The time thats remaining is adequate for these proposals to be executed. Many
of the proposals I made can be achieved through a new Constitution. We
introduced the idea of the new Constitution during the 08 January elections for
several reasons. Firstly, to abolish the Executive Presidency. The Executive
President can control all institutions in the country. He can stop any criminal from
being arrested. This model isnt suitable for a country like ours. This model may
work in developed countries with a political culture. But this model doesnt suit
our country.
The prevalent electoral system is very corrupt. It has to be reformed. A new
methodology has been introduced to local authorities. According to this
methodology representatives who are to be elected will be double the number of
those elected last time. The tax payers money will be utilized to finance all these
representatives.
Power should be devolved. We must also understand that reconciliation is
essential for the countrys growth. We are a small country. We will have no future
if we isolate ourselves from the world. So there should be religious and ethnic
reconciliation. The Sangha is sabotaging an opportunity to bring about important
political reforms. The place that should be given to Buddhism has become a big
issue. The leader of the opposition has clearly said that the due place to Buddhism
should be given, that the State should be unitary and that what is needed is to
devolve power within a unitary state. Yet the Mahanayakes have said that a new
Constitution shouldnt be introduced. This isnt healthy.
During the previous regime Gotabhaya Rajapaksa conducted himself as if he was
the defense secretary for the State and not as the secretary at the Defence
Ministry. He was secondary only to the President. During that time media
institutions were set on fire. Journalists were threatened and killed in broad
daylight. A rugger player was murdered. Ekneligoda disappeared. Various
incidents took place during this time with the aid of the States armed forces.
Unarmed prisoners were killed inside the prison by the armed forces. When the
official army was conducting themselves in such a manner Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
didnt investigate. This means that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is responsible in some
manner. He is a suspect in cases of abductions, crimes and murders that took
place during the previous regime.
The proposals I made can be achieved within the remaining time. There should be
awareness for a new Constitution to be achieved. We see how various groups are
frightening the citizenry by saying that the efforts to promulgate a new
Constitution is an international conspiracy and that the country will be divided
etc. Public representatives should be educated as to why we need a new
Constitution, why power should be devolved, why we need reconciliation, a new
electoral system and why we dont need the Executive Presidency. There were
dialogues leading to the 2015 presidential elections, but this dialogue wasnt
taken forward by the politicians who were elected. If the discourse is carried out
effectively within a year a new Constitution can be realized. So the time left is
sufficient to create the foundation for a decent country.
Q Some parties are opposed to a new Constitution. Do you believe that a new
Constitution can be promulgated amidst such controversy?
On January 8 this Government pledged to introduce a new Constitution. The
common candidate signed an agreement with Ven. Sobitha Thera. The common
candidate pledged to achieve most of these things within 100 days, but failed.
Addressing the gathering at the late Ven Sobitha Theras funeral the President
clearly pledged to abolish the presidency, introduce a new Constitution and
create national reconciliation etc. This ideology has been abandoned. In this
context we see nationalistic forces terrorizing the citizens. Media institutions
facilitate it as well. This situation has been created by the Government. The
President and the Prime Minister have a moral obligation to fulfill the promises
made to the country and to the international community.

QThe public is now critical of the Government as it hasnt fulfilled its promises.
You are critical of the Government as well. Is your criticism of the Government a
strategy to evade the criticism levelled against you for bringing the present
Government to power?
We arent at all disappointed in bringing the current Government to power or in
supporting the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksas regime. It is true that we criticize
the Government. We criticize the Government because this regime isnt acting in
keeping with the agreement we had with the common candidate.
We didnt expect a commission to be appointed to investigate the bond scam and
that the Prime Minister would have to give evidence. We expected there to be
investigations into the scams at the Central Bank in the past and wrong doers to
be punished. Allegations of corruption have been levelled against several
ministers in the present Government. The good thing about this Government is
that information pertaining to such events at certain institutions is revealed. For
example, immediately after the Government assumed power they wanted to
import luxurious vehicles, upgrade their houses and present ministries with
luxuries. It is said that we are in debt because of the Rajapaksas and that we are
poor. In such a poor country do we need such luxuries? Rulers must spend every
rupee giving careful thought.
We criticize the Government because state finances are misused and the rich and
the powerful are treated differently. Cronies are protected.
We arent criticizing the Government because our personal aspirations havent
been fulfilled. We are criticizing the Government because it has failed to fulfill the
promises made on 08 January.

Q When Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi called you requesting a

date to talk about the Avant Garde issue, you promised to fix a date. Has a date
been fixed?
Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi called me and told me that his
business is legal and requested for an opportunity to explain the matter. I cant
personally meet a person like him who is involved in a very complex issue. I
referred this matter to our executive committee. They unanimously asked me not
to meet him. According to the information we possessed at the time, the issue
wasnt whether he did the business lawfully or not. The concern was about the
huge loss of revenue to the Government. He himself says that he has earned a lot
through this business. Why was this given to him when it was initially under the
Government? Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has committed a wrong in this respect. This is
our story.
I called an officer attached to Avant Garde and asked him to inform the chairman
that I wouldnt be able to meet him. The officer had notified the chairman. Now
after one and a half years of this phone call I realize how correct the lawyers were
when they advised me not to meet the chairman. He had recorded the phone
conversation and this shows his intention. If I had met him he would have
recorded that conversation and given a different interpretation. I could have been
blackmailed. Why should I go somewhere and spoil our reputation? There are
allegations against several people who dealt with him. I dont want to fall into this
category of people. When a complex issue of this sort is now before the court I
have no need to personally prove his innocence. If he is innocent the court will
adjudicate accordingly.
We are vocal on the Avant Garde issue not because we underwent a personal
loss, but because we believe the country has suffered a loss. So I didnt fix a date
and I have informed him that I wouldnt be meeting him.
QThe Central Bank bond scam shows us that the fundamental values of good
governance have been lost. What are your views on this?
As soon as we got to know about the bond scam we condemned it. We met the
President and asked him to remove the Central Bank Governor immediately. On
the one hand the governor was not a citizen. If a non-citizen is involved in such a
scam it would be a disastrous situation. We met the Prime Minister and asked
him not to extend the tenure of the governor. We asked the President to appoint
the commission to investigate. The UNP lost six or seven seats at the last election
due to the bond scam. In the election campaign Mahinda Rajapaksas group had
nothing to say except that the Central Bank was robbed in broad daylight.
We are happy that a commission has been appointed. The commission has been
working for a longtime now and the Government has had to incur the expenditure
on these proceedings. The people in this country should be redressed. Corruption
has taken place and there is nothing to hide. But the perpetrators have to be
punished and the money that they incurred unlawfully should be taken over by
the Government.
A commission should be appointed to investigate into the Central Bank scams
that took place during Mahinda Rajapaksas regime too.

Q Patriotic forces are vehemently opposed to the arrest of Gotabhaya

Rajapaksa. What is your take on this?
During the previous regime Gotabhaya Rajapaksa conducted himself as if he was
the defense secretary for the State and not as the secretary at the Defence
Ministry. He was secondary only to the President. During that time media
institutions were set on fire. Journalists were threatened and killed in broad
daylight. A rugger player was murdered. Ekneligoda disappeared. Various
incidents took place during this time with the aid of the States armed forces.
Unarmed prisoners were killed inside the prison by the armed forces. When the
official army was conducting themselves in such a manner Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
didnt investigate. This means that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is responsible in some
manner. He is a suspect in cases of abductions, crimes and murders that took
place during the previous regime.
But now he is before the law. The Sangha of this country should be ashamed of
opposing the execution of the law against murderers and corrupt people.
It is now revealed how these patriotic forces have misused state money. Some
have two passports and two birth certificates for onelself and ones wife. If they
are to be considered as patriotic heroes what kind of an uncivilized country is
this?

QIn the forthcoming elections do you think that UNP and the SLFP should
contest together?
At this moment there doesnt seem to be a conducive environment for the UNP
and the SLFP to contest together. They can contest separately and come to an
agreement in terms of governing the local authorities. Though we criticize the
coalition Government and despite its faults there is a need for the two main
parties to come together for state governance. These two main parties should get
together if a new constitution should be promulgated to cater to national
reconciliation and power devolution. Chandrika Bandaranaike attempted to do
this, but failed because the UNP opposed. Throughout the history these two main
parties have failed to unite the ethnicities. If the two main parties contest
separately and govern together it will benefit the public.

Q Since theres no conducive environment for the two parties to contest

together, to which party will you offer support?
At the presidential election we supported the common candidate who was
politically neutral. We didnt support a political party. During the elections the
President decided to give nominations to Mahinda Rajapaksa. Then as a civil
society group we supported to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa. Afterwards weve had
no goal to make any party victorious. We will stay away from the election
platform.

Q What are your predictions about the upcoming elections?

Im not capable of making any predictions. But we would like to tell the public
that those representing the Joint Opposition and contesting under the
pohottuwa arent suitable to govern the state. They have ruled the country for a
long time and their record is terrible. We would like to ask the public not to give
them a mandate to govern the country.

QWhat are the future plans of the National Movement for a Just Society?
The National Movement for a Just Society was established before the 2015
Presidential Elections. Ven. Sobitha Thera wanted to build a healthy political
culture. Ven. Sobitha Thera did succeed in his effort to a certain extent. But he
passed away before the promises were fulfilled.
There is a historical obligation imposed now on the Movement irrespective of
who the leader is. That is to oversee that the pledges made by the common
candidate are fulfilled. So the main function of the Movement is to persuade the
promulgation of a new constitution.

Posted by Thavam