Meet the new MPs

• My mission is to engage in principled politics: Gayantha
• Ceasefire, pre-condition to talks: Vinayagamoorthy

My mission is to engage in principled politics: Gayantha

Gayantha Karunatilleke's sojourn in politics has been short, having entered the arena only three years ago, yet managing to gain entry into the Southern Provincial Council in 1999. With the retirement of his uncle, former UNP minister Rupa Karunatilleke from active politics, Gayantha became the Bentara-Elpitiya UNP organiser and successfully contested the October Parliamentary election.

Mr. Karunatilleke holds a British Diploma in Political Science and was chairman of the Tea Smallholdings Development Authority in 1982, creating history by being the youngest corporation chairman ever.

Excerpts :

Q: What inspired you to enter the competitive arena of national politics.? As in so many other cases, is it a family tradition?

A: As children we breathed the very air of politics. I was inspired by the political conduct of my uncle, former UNP minister Rupa Karunatilleke who originally sowed political seeds in my mind. I was interested in community service from my school days at Royal College. When it came to the big picture, my uncle provided the necessary impetus and spurred me on to enter the competitive arena.

No. I don't think it is a birthright. If I felt I didn't have anything special to offer my country, I would not have entered politics. It is because I wished for a larger canvas to paint on that I selected it.

Q: How difficult was it to compete with powerful government politicians and equally strong UNP candidates and still manage to create a slot in your very first attempt?

A: There was internal and external competition. As for the PA, it seemed like a warfare which had now spilled over to the post-poll stage. Two main candidates are still at war over the counting of 'preferences'. In this backdrop of hunting for preferences, naturally as the main opposition the UNP also faced stiff competition. There was massive misuse of state resources and abuse of the state media.

But unlike the PA, we worked as a team. I am happy to be included in a young, gifted, politically -experienced team as the only newcomer from Galle.

Q: With all the changes and the infusion of young blood, the UNP still seems to be plagued by a lack of dynamism. How do you assess the UNP's role as the main opposition at a time when the country is affected by many burning issues?

A: This is unfair criticism. The UNP's role is to be the constructive opposition, not oppose for the sake of opposing thereby reducing the House from the sublime to the ridiculous. But we are not confined to the House alone. We have taken our struggle before the judiciary, and the general public.

At the party convention a fortnight ago, we amended the party constitution to meet present day political requirements. The UNP parliamentary group is a combination of the young and the old. We work according to a strategy and do not indulge in empty rhetoric. Sadly, people identify noise-makers as being vibrant rather than those who actually work with a vision.

Q: At present, there is a public outcry against the PA, and many vital issues such as the war, the economy and the cost of living remain un-addressed. Isn't the UNP very lacklustre in thrashing out issues as well?

A: It would have been undemocratic to block the PA's path during its first term. But this time, we don't accept that the PA has received a mandate and we are ready to play the vital role of highlighting injustices, national issues and bringing redress to the suffering masses through a thoroughly organised campaign. We will strike soon, in Parliament and outside and exert tremendous pressure on the ruling coalition that they would either have to resolve the problems or go home.

Q: Having served a very short spell at provincial level, how do you view the elevation from provincial to the national arena?

A: I take it as a "fortunate personal achievement." But I am aware that this achievement has a lot of responsibility attached. It is an opportunity to serve the people better because as opposed to the provincial level, parliamentarians have more scope, opportunity and power. All of which could be utilised to serve my electorate and district.

Q: As a young parliamentarian, what are your immediate plans?

A: My mission is to engage in principled politics, transcending petty political barriers, and thereby evolve an exemplary political leadership in this land. We have a young , innovative team. History has given us an opportunity to evolve the system, within the party as well as at national level.

Ceasefire, pre-condition to talks: Vinayagamoorthy

K. Vinayagamoorthy is a human rights lawyer who has been in active politics for the past 20 years espousing the cause of the Tamil people. With the assassination of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) leader Kumar Ponnambalam, he shot to fame and also entered Parliament representing the Jaffna district after a long lapse in ACTC representation in the legislature.

Excerpts:

Q: The ACTC has openly criticised many Tamil political parties for not effectively serving the Tamil community. But now that the ACTC has Parliamentary representation, what have you so far achieved for them?

A: I entered the fray for two reasons; to prevent those who misrepresent the Tamil community by falling prey to crumbs thrown by governments and to truly espouse the aspirations of the Tamil community.

One must remember the historical background in which the ACTC was founded by G. G. Ponnambalam way back in 1944. He foresaw the coming of the Sinhala Only Act and its repercussions. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike introduced this discriminatory Act despite heavy opposition to it. When J. R. Jayewardene proposed it, parity and equality was reduced to a mere word. The last straw which broke the camel's back was the standardisation. So separatism was not Prabhakaran's brainchild, but that of the late Sinhala political leaders. Dr. Colvin R. De Silva then warned that "this Act would mean the parting of the ways" and 1956 and 1983 have amply demonstrated this fact.

Q: Don't you think, you will still have to confine yourself to making some passionate speeches inside the House, but not be able to achieve much in practical terms? What service can you render as a solitary Parliamentarian when the EPDP has better opportunities of serving the people as part of the ruling coalition?

A: These so-called national parties have not done a thing to undo what the Sinhala Only Act did, so I don't see any way for a Tamil political party to join hands with a Sinhala government.

A series of humiliating experiences have created a great ethnic divide. That feeling still persists. We learned Sinhala in our Jaffna schools till 1956 without a problem and then stopped. It is too late to unto what Mr. Bandaranaike did just to ride a populist wave and become Prime Minister.

The EPDP was supportive of the government even in the 10th Parliament. But what did they win for the people? There is no law which requires Tamils in Colombo city to register themselves at police stations. Every time we go to Jaffna, we need MOD clearance. Doesn't it demonstrate that Jaffna is actually being treated like another country, to enter which you need a sort of visa which is the MOD clearance? Parties who curry favour with ruling parties should at least try to make life a bit easier for the people.

Q: Isn't it easy to advocate theories as you do from your Colombo residences while being surrounded by state security and feeling more secure amidst other communities?

A: I am here in Colombo to actually serve their purpose. I lobby support for the suffering civilian population. The truth is that the LTTE has internationalised the issue, and the government forces cannot annihilate them completely. But my concern is not the warring parties but the Tamil civilians who get caught in the middle of it all. To do this effectively, I need a Colombo base, but I go to Jaffna regularly and I am there when they need me.

Q: But why is it that after the assassination of the ACTC leader Kumar Ponnambalam that the party has failed to gather momentum or to create a voice?

A: Undoubtedly, Mr. Ponnambalam was the uncrowned king of the Tamil community. For weeks many countries mourned his death. But the party has not died. When I advocated a ceasefire as a preliminary for talks and lobbied for it at the risk of my life, I wasn't even a parliamentarian.

Q: In the final analysis, what does the ACTC propose as a means to solve the ethnic issue? And what would your role be in a government peace initiative?

A: As a pre-condition, a ceasefire is necessary. There has to be mutual respect if you desire to talk. An immediate ceasefire and a committed effort to peacefully settle the issue based on the Thimpu principles is what the ACTC stands for. As for our role, we shall wait and see how they undo the damage they brought upon a community which once lived amicably with the majority community.

Insulin: animal is cheaper than man

Diabetic patients have been caught in the controversy between pork and beef insulin that is still on, with the human insulin in the market proving too costly.

While politicians are having arguments on which insulin to import, patients have been left with little choice but to purchase whatever is available.

The beef and pork insulin which is widely used in Sri Lanka is the cheapest when compared with the effective human insulin.

The interruption in the import of beef insulin has sparked off a controversy in the political arena. Paliamentarian A.H.M. Azwer said that stopping the import of beef insulin would be unfair by the Muslims as they consider it forbidden to use anything containing pork while the human insulin cannot be afforded by many.

The pork and beef insulin are the cheapest in the market ranging from around Rs. 400 to Rs. 450 while the human insulin which is derived from bacterial sources best matches the human body.

Allergic reactions were higher in the beef insulin due to impurities in production, whereas in the case of pork insulin, such reactions were less, President of the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya said.

"All three products are available in the market but when we tender, the cost factor will make us buy the cheapest," Dr Wijesuriya said.

The insulin was imported from two countries – Denmark and the US. The human insulin costs Rs. 934 for 1000 units (Denmark) and Rs. 975 (US) while pork insulin costs Rs. 425 and is imported only from Denmark with beef insulin costing a little less.

Dr. Wijesuriya suggested that to cater to the different tastes, the Government should import according to the demand for the various products.

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