“People will make the JVP the main opposition”: Mayadunne

“People will not make the JVP the ruling party but they will most certainly make us the main opposition,” noted former Auditor General Sarath Chandrasiri Mayadunne who heads the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna national list.

Reiterating his displeasure for party politics Mayadunne stressed that inactivity and silence of ‘good individuals’ pave way for the bad people to govern the country. “Therefore it is the duty of such people to be active and prevent drug peddlers and underworld getting into state mechanism.”

He points out that the country is in a critical time. “Although the 19th Amendment has prevented certain negative elements to some extent we cannot say that the country is out of danger. If people make a wrong choice at the upcoming election certain changes that were made for the betterment of the country in the last two-three months will not be effective. Therefore, people need to make a wise decision. Think carefully; think about the country; if we take the wrong decision this time we will never be able to turn back. So people should vote wisely.”

Following are excerpts of the interview with Mayadunne:

Q: Why did you decide to join politics?     

A: My decision to join politics was based on two important facts. Firstly, I never had an intention to join active politics. But when I saw the damage caused to this country by the so-called politicians I felt that as a responsible individual it is my duty to contribute in some way to make a change. I strongly believe that the main reason behind this misconduct in the country is due to the ‘silence of good individuals’. I don’t blame drug peddlers, thugs and the underworld. It is due to the inactivity and silence of good people that people with bad reputation have got into state mechanism. That is my first reason.

Secondly, it is due to the free education system that we are able to be where we are today. It is people’s money – the tax money of innocent people in this country that funded our education. It is due to their money that we have been able to achieve what we have achieved today. In such a situation we cannot think about petty reasons such as our security and protection of our families when we need to actively be involved in safeguarding our motherland. I think that is selfishness. I feel that I need to get involved and take whatever steps I could to put the country back on the right track. Everyone who has enjoyed the privileges of free education has an obligation to do that.

At the same time people believe the civil organisation has a bigger responsibility in taking leadership to protect the country from where it is heading at the moment. Considering these factors I have decided to come into politics.      

Q: Did other parties invite you to join them?

A: Yes. I have friends representing almost all political parties in the country. And I got invitations from many political parties. But most parties failed to give me an assurance about my independency. As I have mentioned before I do not want to get into politics the way others do; I especially have no interest in party politics. I am someone who would stand up for the truth and speak out against the wrong. That is what I want in politics too. If I get involved with a particular party I will not be able to continue with such policies of mine.

The JVP however agreed to my conditions and assured I do not have to work for the party or be part of their party. I felt by getting a place in the JVP national list I will be able to fulfil my aspirations. I don’t believe in character assassination. I don’t believe in mudslinging. There are very good politicians in the JVP as well as other political parties. I cannot criticise those people merely to promote a political party. But if I see something wrong I should have the freedom to raise a voice against such matters. My criticism will never aim at individuals. If I criticise it will always be actions of people.  

When the JVP had the opportunity to include a party member in the national list they sacrificed that and gave me the chance. I appreciate that decision very much and am thankful to the JVP for giving me that opportunity. I think they have set a very good example to the other political parties. The reason behind having a national list is to give the opportunity to intellectuals, academics and professionals who are not in politics to be involved in governance.  

Q: So you did not pick the JVP because of their policies. Your decision was based on a personal agenda which they have agreed to. How do you justify this?  

A: When I look at the policies of the JVP I do not see any reason why I should not work with them. And the JVP is the only party that did not get involved in any wrongdoings, financial frauds and misconduct. There were and are serious allegations against politicians in all other political parties. The two main parties have failed to make any reasonable statement about these allegations so far. And they have failed to take up these issues at the Parliament and either clear themselves of those allegations or give reasons as to why such things have happened in the first place. This was one main reason why I didn’t want to work with the two main parties.

Q: There is no assurance that you will be securing a seat in Parliament. In such scenario how will you carry out your work?

A: The JVP has the ability to name me to represent Parliament depending on the total number of seats they get from all around the country. Not only me, everyone who represents the JVP national list comprises of academics, intellectuals and professionals with discipline. I strongly believe we will get an opportunity.

Q: People may rally around the JVP and appreciate their work. But they still hesitate to elect JVP to administer the country. How do you see this situation?

A: What you say is correct. We do not have sufficient votes to be the governing party of this country. But as we speak the number of people rallying around the JVP keeps increasing. During the past few years it was the JVP who played the role of the main opposition. When other people kept mum in most instances it was the JVP who raised the voice. Therefore it isn’t wrong to say that the JVP has the ability of becoming the main opposition in this country.

Anura Kumara Dissanayaka has a very good opportunity of becoming the leader of the opposition. Although there is no assurance that the JVP has the ability of governing the country they surely do have the chance of becoming the main opposition. However we should know that politics in this country is uncertain and predicting what will happen in the future is not a wise thing to do.

Q: As a former Auditor General what are your remarks about the proposed audit bill and failure to get it through?  

A: This bill was drafted and initiated when I was serving as the Auditor General. It was drafted under the advice of the World Bank, other international financial institutions, Indian State Auditor, Netherland State Auditor and Great Britain State Auditor. This bill went up to cabinet approval. However it was never submitted to Parliament approval due to various reasons. After 2005 we hardly spoke about this bill. It was after 8 January this year that we started talking about this bill once again.

I strongly believe that getting this bill through is vital. If we need to combat corruption in the state mechanism it is essential to get this bill passed. No matter what the Auditor General presents, if the Parliamentary select committee doesn’t put much weight on such matters then everything becomes ineffective. This is exactly what happened during the past years. And if we get an opportunity we will make sure to put our best effort to get these things through.

Q: What are your remarks about the present situation in the political country?

A: This is a very critical time for the country. If people make a wrong decision the country will be in great danger. Although the 19th Amendment has prevented certain negative elements to some extent we cannot say that the country is out of danger. If people make a wrong choice at the upcoming election certain changes that were made for the betterment of the country in the last two-three months will not be effective. Therefore, people need to make a wise decision.  Think carefully; think about the country, if we take the wrong decision this time we will never be able to turn back. So people should vote wisely.