Gotabhaya Next Presidential Candidate – Mahindananda Aluthgamage

by Ashanthi Warunasuriya

MP Aluthgamage in an interview with The Sunday Leader further talked about the present harmful political situation of the country and the future plans of the joint opposition to restore the normalcy in the country.

Following are the excerpts of the interview:

Q: Next month marks the first anniversary of the Yahapalana government, in which a group of SLFPers also hold part. How do you view the duration that they have governed so far?

A: Normally two main political parties in a country get together when that country faces dire national issues. However, in Sri Lanka, even at the height of war, the UNP did not support former President Rajapaksa. Now they banded together and say that they did get together to rebuild the country. Instead, they have now worsened the situation.

 

Q: Recently they extended this cohabitation for three more years. What is the reason?

A; We strongly object to this decision. We initially understood that the SLFP could unite after this 2-year drama. Even the President has said that the extension may make the country unstable. However, no matter how long the government take, they won’t be able to prevent their collapse.

 

Q: What are the reasons for ceasing the development drive in the country?

A: The government thinks that there is going to be no issue if the development stops. But there is a big chain behind this development. When development grinds into a halt, everything else also stops. The government has not realised how many depend on these development projects.

 

Q: Is that why the prices of goods have gone up?

A: In 2015, Ranil Wickremesinghe withdrew more than 300 million US Dollars to prevent the Rupee from falling. It is like dropping something into the Bay of Bengal. The government has borrowed the highest that a government in Sri Lanka ever recorded within a year. But they did not construct even a drain with that fund.

 

Q: Do you think that this government has already disappointed people?

A:  Yes, solely because of the inability of the government. This government cannot continue even though it comprises the two main political parties in the country.

 

Q:  Civil organizations that supported this government to come into power, now protest. What is your view on this development?

A:  The government painted a false picture of the former government by fabricating mega deals that they said the former government committed such as highway robberies, purchasing golden horses and Lamborghinis, and engaging in narcotic deals. This was totally an international conspiracy. But to date, none of these thieves have been caught, so people now distrust them.

 

Q: What are the good things that the government has done so far?

A: The President is trying to do something with regard to reconciliation. But with Ranil Wickremesinghe, his effort will fail. Apart from that, this government has done nothing good.

 

Q: Local government elections have been postponed. Clamouring for the 20th Amendment, too, is not to be seen now. What do you think of these issues?

A: That is why we carried out this protest march. The government know very well the reason why they cannot hold LG polls. The public opinion scares the government. They know that no sooner than they hold the polls, they have to retreat.

 

Q: The SLFP General Secretary has said that the party would take disciplinary action against those SLFPers who took part in the march. What is your view about this claim?

A: Even though the General Secretary has said so, the President as the chairman of the party has permitted us to go against the wrong decisions of the government. So the word of the chairman has more value than that of the secretary.

 

Q: What will be scenario if disciplinary action is taken?

A: At that time, we will decide what to do.

 

Q: The Prime Minister makes it his habit to scold the media. How do you see this development?

A: This habit of the Prime Minister caused the defeat of the UNP government in 2001. This time too he is going to mess everything up with his speeches. His habits will not change even if he returns to power in 2020. So he must correct his behavior. It is ironical to see those who praised the media freedom have now started to curtail it.

 

Q: The Joint Opposition formed a Shadow Cabinet. How is its progress now?

A: Only 2 months passed after launching the shadow Cabinet. We will very soon file charges at the Bribery Commission against 10 senior ministers in the government.

 

Q: Why can’t you give the government more time for them to carry out their development plans and then protest if they fail in them?

A: We received public support more than we expected. We requested all to contribute to this march. When taking into account the way this government is going on, they must not be given not even a month, let alone a year, to stay in power. Now they have been in power for 1 year and 7 months and continue ruining the country. Therefore, everyone should get together to protest against their pathetic governance.

 

Q: Is the ‘Viyath Maga’ another scheme to bring Gotabhaya Rajapaksa into politics?

A: The Prime Minister fears the entry of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa into politics. That is why Gotabhaya and others being summoned to the CID and the FCID many a time. If the Executive Presidency is not going to be abolished, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is definitely going to be the next presidential candidate.