Most acts of election related violence have been directed at the JVP in the Gampaha district. How bad is the situation?
In the entire province, there is an organized attempt to carry out acts of violence against the JVP. Several of our offices have been attacked. One of our members was killed. When the campaigning began, the government was convinced it was going to secure a comfortable victory in the WPC but it has now realized that this election will not be similar to the Wayamba and Sabaragamuwa elections.This is why government supporters have resorted to violence against their political opponents.
Given the circumstances can you expect a free and fair poll on the 25th?
From the beginning the government had no intention of conducting a free and fair PC poll. This is why the elections to the provincial councils are being held on a selective basis. In the provinces where polls were previously held, government used state power, intimidation and a well orchestrated campaign to secure convincing victories, but avoided any serious acts of violence so that election monitors gave a clean slate at these elections. But in the WPC, its plans have not worked, hence there is more violence. We can expect more violence on election day.
But, even if that does not happen, the incidents which have already taken place are proof that the poll will be neither free nor fair.
The government’s war against terrorism figures prominently among government candidates electioneering. Will that be the decisive factor in the WPC polls?
The government has used this slogan to win all previous polls. But people are aware of the role the JVP played to force this action against terrorism. The government is using the sacrifices made by the soldiers to win votes. We think the results in the WPC will be different from that of other provinces.
You have been a PC member for nine years. Do you feel the PC has served the people to its full potential?
The recurrent expenditure of the WPC is over 80 per cent of its budget. That in itself shows the WPC is merely a salary paying institution and not one that engages in development work.
Unfortunately even the minimum work which can be carried out with capital expenditure is not properly done.
For example, the Housing Ministry of the WPC has not built a single house during the past two years despite having employed several officials.
The WPC is a highly inefficient and corrupt council. If UPFA candidates are re-elected, they will continue in the manner they have acted during the past 16 years.
There must be change.
The ruling party and the UNP have been running the PCs since they were created in 1988, why have they not won the confidence of the people as an effective institution? If the JVP is elected, will things change?
In the past five years, the SLFP and the UNP have been running the WPC as coalition partners. When we brought charges against the former Chief Minister on grounds of corruption, the UNP members gave affidavits saying they had confidence in him. If any positive change can be brought about in the WPC, it can only be done by the JVP. |