(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) As Sri Lanka readies to vote today incumbent President Rajapaksa took some time out to speak exclusively to Khaleej Times the first interview given to any publication in the Middle East.
It’s D-day for Mahinda Rajapaksa two-time President of Sri Lanka hailed as a strong leader by his fans and vilified equally as an almost-dictator by his detractors.
Mahinda Rajapaksa faces perhaps the toughest challenge since 2005. With Tamils and Muslims who together constitute about 20 per cent of the Lankan population preferring to back his rival candidate Maithripala Sirisena Rajapaksa will bank on votes in rural Lanka and the Sinhala Buddhist majority.
Rajapaksa rode the wave of victory in the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009. But allegations of corruption and family rule as well as curbing powers of the independent judiciary police and media are likely to make a dent in his chances at regaining the Presidential seat.
A virtually unknown candidate his former Health Minister Sirisena has suddenly shot up in rankings resulting in a neck-to-neck combat.
As Sri Lanka readies to vote today incumbent President Rajapaksa took some time out to speak exclusively to Khaleej Times the first interview given to any publication in the Middle East.
Although he preferred not to comment on questions relating to the allegations of corruption and family rule Rajapaksa spoke to SANDHYA RAVISHANKAR on a tough battle in the North the Salman Khan controversy and why Tamils who fled the country during the war should now come back home.
KHALEEJ TIMES: Mr President you are looking to be re-elected for the third time. How do you rate your chances of a hat-trick win and why do you believe Sri Lanka will vote you in again
MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA: I am very confident. Especially after campaigning around the country I’m sure that I’ll win comfortably. You need to see the situation on the ground. People know how it was to live with war so they appreciate the peace. And we have brought development like no other government has ever done in Sri Lanka before. People also know that.
In 2005 I made a promise to end terrorism and I delivered. In 2010 the people saw that and gave me their vote again for a second time.
I have also delivered the promises I made in 2010. The same will happen this time also. I have been true to the people and they know that.
You have campaigned extensively in the Northern Province. Is that your toughest vote bank yet
The people of the Northern Province have gone through a lot because of terrorism. But we have done a lot of work in the North. We have put in substantial development funds to that part of the country because I know how they suffered under LTTE terrorism. I think things are changing there. You can see from the faces of the people when I go and talk to them year after year. I think I will get more votes this time than last.
How do you view the fact that the TNA has decided to support your Opposition candidate Mr Sirisena
I think it’s unfortunate. There is no way that their demands can be met when you look at who is really in control of my opponent. There’s absolutely no way. On the other hand I have repeatedly invited the TNA for talks with my Government. We are ready and willing to start a dialogue with them to address issues. But they simply are not willing. It’s like I say some people benefit from being in the opposition continuously.
India appears to be backing your Presidentship — you have Narendra Modi’s campaign manager on your team Bollywood stars like Salman Khan have campaigned with you Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wished you luck and hoped for a win. How do you view the Indian efforts to back your candidature
As I always say India is our relation. Our two countries will always have strong relations.
But these other things you mentioned are completely false. I don’t have anyone from Prime Minister Modi’s team working on my campaign. And the media reports about Salman Khan campaigning for me are also completely false. He came for a programme organised by his organisation to donate lenses for cataract operations. If I needed support from artists I would go to our own artists. And if you saw my campaign events you would see how many Sri Lankan artists are with me.
Is there a message you would like to give to the thousands of Sri Lankans who have left the country during the war and sought refuge abroad
I know most of the Sri Lankans who left didn’t go by choice but because of this terrible 30 years of terrorism and fear for their children’s future. But now Sri Lanka is a very different place.
It is a peaceful stable and free country that is developing extremely fast. All our focus is on giving our new generations opportunities. So I invite them to consider returning to Sri Lanka.
I know this might be difficult for some after having to settle down in other countries. If they are unable to return and stay I ask them to be involved with what goes on here. Don’t forget your Motherland. Contribute however way you can to our development.
What poll promise are you making to Sri Lankans working abroad in countries like the UAE
In the “Mahinda Chintana 2015 – Path to Success” document you can find all this. One thing they have asked from me is to give them the chance to vote. During this next term I will take measures to give Sri Lankans working abroad a chance to vote in our elections.
I also want to implement a pension plan for those who return after working abroad. But something that is very important is taking care of the families who stay back in Sri Lanka.
As you know we have a lot of mothers who travel to the Middle East for employment. When a mother is away from the family it has a very big impact. But they go because they also want to give their children a better life. So we need to take care of the workers as well as their families until they come back.
What has the response of the people to your campaign been
The campaign went extremely well even better than I first expected. I know the people of Sri Lanka are still with me. They want me to be their President this time also.
newskhaleejtimes.com
Rajapaksa vs Sirisena
Sri Lanka will vote in a new president today. Khaleej Times takes a look at the odds of the two main candidates in the presidential race
Sandhya Ravishankar
Chennai: History could well be made in Sri Lanka today as incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa faces off with challenger Maithripala Sirisena today.
The battle has been hard fought and a potboiler with high emotions dirty tricks and outrageous allegations being flung by both sides.
While Mahinda Rajapaksa in his manifesto has tried to woo voters with a promise of development Sirisena who also emphasises development has paid more attention to farmers. Both candidates have shown an increased emphasis on education in a bid to woo the youth.
“As competitors Rajapaksa with all State power and resources at his hands stands visually tall where ever one goes in the city or in rural towns with huge hoardings posters banners and even on digital advertising screens” said political critic and journalist Kusal Pereira. “Maithripala obviously couldn’t compete with such publicity blitzkrieg and instead relies on mainstream media campaigning and public rallies. Where Rajapaksa stands short is in social perceptions that had created a groundswell against him even before Maithripala was ever thought of as an “opposition” candidate” he added.
Sirisena’s focus is on good governance specifically a promise to abolish the Executive Presidency which is seen as authoritarian and undemocratic. Rajapaksa too in his manifesto has dealt with the subject proposing instead to curb the powers of the President.
Critics though point out that Rajapaksa had promised to do so in previous elections too but had not implemented it.
“Maithripala’s presence as a Sinhala Buddhist from rural society has given a new boost to the groundswell that was growing against Rajapaksa” said Pereira. “Certainly this groundswell that has the majority of the Tamil and Muslim people the Sinhala rural and the urban middle class voicing their fatigue and displeasure over the Rajapaksa regime lifts Maithripala above Rajapaksa in a free and fair election” he added.
Sirisena has also promised to abolish the 18th Amendment which has stripped the judiciary and police of its independence. Rajapaksa’s manifesto is silent on the issue although he does promise an act that will ensure transparency of utilisation of funds by the state and curb corruption.
Political hawks feel there is a mood for change in the air. “Sirisena is a simple guy coming from a very rural area he has a lot of experience” said Victor Ivan respected political critic and senior journalist.
Despite the negative vibes from the Tamil voters in the North Rajapaksa has persevered to win their trust by promising free agricultural land for 100000 families in the North and the East.
He has also promised Tamils that if he is voted back to power he will ensure that a local panel is set up to probe into allegations of human rights violations during the war. Sirisena on the other hand has promised an international inquiry into the issue in a bid to woo Tamil minorities.
As far as foreign policy goes both Rajapaksa and Sirisena have promised to keep immediate neighbour India close. But while Rajapaksa is clearly pro-China Sirisena tends to lean towards the West promising close ties with the US and other aligned allies.
Both candidates however are united on the stance of military presence in the Northern Province. This has been a continuing demand from the Tamil population in the North – to demilitarize the area and bring back normalcy.
Sri Lanka will largely vote on reforms both political and economic. “Sri Lanka needs reforms that can help establish a pluralistic nation State that has to be secular too that every Sinhalese Tamil and Muslim would feel they are equal citizens and have equal opportunities in” said Pereira.
“This is a failed aspiration ever since independence in 1948. We have been racing in the opposite direction in creating a Sinhala Buddhist State dominated by Sinhala arrogance” he said.
Reforms are an urgent necessity in Sri Lanka. The new President would have a tough task fulfilling promises made in the run up to the election.
Also Read:Sri Lankans hope for change as elections start
newskhaleejtimes.com
For more news from Khaleej Times follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes and on Twitter at khaleejtimes
Follow khaleejtimes ->