Stop trying to topple us: Basil tells UNP

• Reports on corrupt politicians are politically motivated
• Never in the history of Sri Lanka Parliament has the budget been defeated

By Chandani Kirinde

Basil Rajapaksa, National List MP and advisor on political affairs to President Mahinda Rajapaksa says it’s time for the UNP-led opposition to accept the defeat they suffered in Parliament on November 19 and allow the Government to carry forward its programme at least till the next Budget. In an interview with The Sunday Times Mr. Rajapaksa also said the President is serious about fighting corruption and has taken more measures than all presidents in the past to fight the menace. Excepts:

• You were tipped to be named a minister soon after your appointment as an MP. What is the delay?

It is the President who decides who should be a minister or who should not be but personally I prefer to remain as an MP. This is because I am also on the President’s staff as Advisor on Political Affairs and through this I am involved in the workings of the executive branch as well as the legislature of the country.

• There are numerous allegations of corruption in the state sector – the COPE report, Auditor General’s reports have exposed them. The government seems to be turning a blind eye to these allegations.

All this talk is because the government is taking action against those alleged to be involved in corruption. From 1947 there have been AG’s reports and like wise but this is the first time the executive is taking action in this regard. For example, now, if a liquor licence is issued people talk about it because our policy is not to issue liquor licences. Those days smoking in a public place was not banned but now it is banned and if someone smokes it becomes big news.

Mr. Basil Rajapaksa

This is what has happened on the issue of corruption as well. Before the President took over, it was considered a normal thing, so no one worried about it and now people are talking openly about it. The President has a special investigations unit under him to look into these allegations and 9-10 chairmen of different institutions have been removed while some high officials have been moved out pending inquiries against them. There is more awareness now.

• Do you feel the government is doing enough and in your review how serious is this problem?

The government cannot act on its own in this regard. The public too has a role to play by bringing these malpractices to the notice of the government. There is no country in the world where there is zero corruption. The Government is trying its best to stop and minimise this evil. The private sector too must assist.

• What about the allegations of corruption against ministers and other politicians on the government side. You were only talking about government officials earlier?

Politicians are peoples’ representatives. The public have to decide if corrupt persons should hold office or not and the politicians too must decide for themselves if they are fit to hold high office. But allegations against politicians have been made for many years. There were allegations against persons such as Dr.N.M.pererea and Mrs.Sirimavo Bandaranaike as well. Just because there are allegations we need to be careful before jumping into conclusions, because most of them are politically motivated to get rid of persons who are working for the country. We have lost many people who can serve the country because of such allegations. .

• You were appointed to the COPE and the PAC soon after your appointment as a MP? It has been alleged that you were put there to disrupt proceedings. Who decided you should be in these two Committees?

It is the right of an MP to be in committees. In my case the Government Group, the Leader of the House and the Chief Whip decided that I should serve in these two Committees.

• There are a large number of ministers and deputy ministers. Are they all needed?

Ranil Wickremesinghe also had a large number of ministers and deputies when he was Prime Minister. All those holding ministerial posts are given a lot of responsibility and other than the expenses for their personal staff and allowances, most of them are drawing half a minister’s monthly salary which is even less than what an MP gets. They all have a big responsibility in their given areas and the President reviews their performance at least once in there months to ensure that the work is being done.

• Were you surprised that the JVP decided to vote against the Budget?

Yes and no. I knew they would not vote for the Budget and would decide between voting against it or abstaining but as it is purely a JVP party decision, I am not going to comment on it.

• There is speculation once again that another attempt would be made to defeat the Budget at the Third Reading, what do you think?

Up to now there have been around 60 Budgets presented in the Sri Lankan Parliament and never has a Budget been defeated and in no country that has a parliamentary system has a Budget that has been passed in the Second Reading being defeated in the Third Reading. When a government is elected for a period, Parliament or President must be allowed to serve that term. From 1970-75, (Former President) JR Jayewardene did not disrupt the government of Mrs.Bandaranaike. He only began agitating between 1975-77 because the term of Parliament had been extended by a constitutional amendment. Both Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE wanted to defeat us and they tried once on the 19th and failed. My point is they must then allow at least one more year to go before trying to do it again.

• You mean they must accept defeat?

Yes, because it is not fair by the country and the people, for them to continue to act in this manner. Because of this kind of thing everything in the country comes to a halt. The military operations got halted during that period, the government offices did not function properly and the people were also distracted as if it was election time. Now that they failed on the 19th and the Budget was passed, they must give up their efforts to disrupt the government. Actually they must allow the government to continue for six years but if they are under pressure from the LTTE to change this government before the forces come to Wanni, as a responsible opposition they must allow the Government to run at least till the next Budget . Give us a chance to implement this Budget and work for the country. We are not afraid of the threats to defeat the Government but this uncertainly they are creating is not good for the country.

• Hasn’t a disproportionate amount being allocated from the Budget to ministries coming under the President while other ministries have not got their fair share?

Every ministry has got adequate allocations. There are increases in the health, transport, education and power and energy sectors. Under the Mahinda Chintanaya, different areas are given priority each year and allocations are done accordingly. We are getting new railway carriages after 15 years, new buses are being imported and in the power sector too we are investing about one billion dollars on power generation projects. . Defence expenditure is an absolute necessity. Next year will be the year when the country will be united after nearly 30 years and people of all races would be able to travel freely throughout the country. We need to spend on defence to protect the people and their property. The allocations for the finance ministry are necessary as we have huge debts to pay off for loans taken by successive governments in the past. Who ever comes to power must do that. The money allocated under the Nation Building Ministry is given to different ministries depending on the projects undertaken.

• There was lot of publicity given to your handshake with former Minister Mangala Samaraweera after the 2nd Reading vote on the Budget. Is there room for him to come back to government?

That was purely a personal discussion but as the President has indicated, anyone is free to join the Government or leave.