Monday, 20th July 2014
By Ananth Palakidnar Excerpts of the interview:
Q: You are the first Governor of the Northern Province. What have you to say on your reappointment to that position?
A: I am very happy to say that I have got the opportunity to continue with my service to the people in the North. When I was first appointed as the Governor Northern Province in July 2009, I was tasked with not only rebuilding the war-torn Province, but also creating a conducive atmosphere to stabilize the civil administration.
When I assumed duties as Governor in 2009, I closely associated with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) led by Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa in rebuilding Jaffna, giving priority to infrastructure developments such as restructuring roads, highways and expediting the process of resettling the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Apart from the reconstruction and resettlement activities, with the help of the Presidential Task Force, measures were also put in place to enhance the livelihood assistance to the people in the North, in the areas of agriculture and fisheries. Since I had served as Jaffna Security Forces Commander for nearly three and a half years, from 2005 to 2008, I was able to familiarize with the contours of Jaffna. Therefore my military background remained an additional strength to me to carry out the civil administration towards engaging in the post-war humanitarian activities. Now I step into my second term with the satisfaction of rebuilding the war-torn Northern Province to a greater extent in the next five years.
Q: How do you assess your first term as Governor Northern Province soon after the region was liberated from the LTTE in 2009?
A: Well, it was a herculean task. While giving priority to rebuilding the infrastructure facilities to link up the Northern Province with other parts of the country, the civil administration in the Northern Province had to be streamlined. Several police stations and court houses, which were closed down due to the civil strife in the North, were reopened to stabilize law and order in the region. Soon after assuming duties as Governor I went with Minister of Economic Affairs and the Presidential Task Force Chief Basil Rajapaksa to the Kilinochchi area where we first took the initiative to provide electricity. Thereafter, we gradually provided the electricity to other areas in the North and now we see every nook and corner in the North supplied with electricity.
Our plans to rebuild the Northern Province were methodical. Now the schools and hospitals have been not only rebuilt, they have also been modernized. Students are happy. Their performances in education and extracurricular activities have improved vastly. As far as the health sector is concerned the Jaffna Teaching hospital and other regional hospitals have been developed with new buildings and modern facilities. So even before the setting up of the Northern Provincial Council last year, I had played my role on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in rebuilding the North, paving the way for the Northern Provincial Council to further develop the region instead of grumbling about petty things.
Q: What is your view on the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) demanding your removal citing your military background?
A: First of all I am no more in the military service. I am now very much a civil servant appointed by the President to strengthen the civil administration and the democratic institutions which were in dire straits in the North. I have been appointed as Governor Northern Province very much in accordance with the country's Constitution. I am not the first person with military background to be appointed as the Governor of the Northern Province. When the first North and East Provincial Council was created in 1988, the former Army Commander Gen. Nalin Seneviratne was appointed as Governor of the merged North and East Province.
Thereafter Major General Asoka Jayawardene served as Governor of the North and East Province. There was hardly any opposition from the Tamil political Parties when they were appointed as Governors. However, now the TNA is grumbling about my presence as Governor for their political gain. As Governor I have contributed immensely to rebuilding Jaffna. I like the people of Jaffna. The Government officials are right behind me in carrying out the development activities. However, the TNA is not focused on the development activities. They are scared of the good work carried out by the government in developing the North. So, to cover up their political bankruptcy they have been targeting my position as Governor.
For instance a few days ago Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran declared open a school building at Mandaitivu under the GFATM project funded by the World Bank. However, I took the initiative to allocate the funds for that particular school project. Likewise I have been playing a very supportive role towards developing all prime areas in the North. So I will continue to do so despite the TNA grumbling.
Q: You functioned as Security Forces Commander and later as Chief of Staff before the LTTE was defeated. What's your response to the TNA's claim of excessive military presence in the North?
A: Well, I am in a better position to answer this question than anyone else. I served as Security Forces Commander in Jaffna from 2005 to 2008. I don't need to say about the days under the terror reign of the LTTE. Checkpoints and bunkers were put up by the Army every hundred meters to curb LTTE activities. There were big and small military installations in every nook and corner in the North. To ensure the security and to curb any form of LTTE attack, the military personnel were keeping around the clock vigil by patrolling the areas and carrying out search operations. However with the defeat of the LTTE all military check points and roadside bunkers have been removed. The camps which were put up in the civilian areas have also been removed to a great extent. The military has set up civil offices to deal with the day to day problems of the civilians and the responsibility of maintaining law and order is now very much in the hands of the police. The military never interferes in the civil administration. Compared to the situation which prevailed during the dark period,
I must say that the military presence in the North has been cut down drastically. The Security Forces were in the process of handing over the houses and public buildings which were in their possession during the turbulent period. There is not a single soldier found on the streets of Jaffna. Since the Northern region was worst affected due to the three decades of war, the withdrawal of the Security Forces could only be carried out gradually and it is being done. The Army at present in the North is very much engaged in humanitarian activities. They have built houses and renovated public buildings such as schools, hospitals and places of worship. So the security forces in the North are playing a supportive role in stabilizing the hard earned peace.
Q: You say that Security Forces have withdrawn from several areas in the North. But the TNA is in the process of taking legal action against the alleged land acquisition in the North. A large number of civilians claim that they still remain as Internally Displaced Persons in the North. They also stage protests on and off in the North.
What do you say about that?
A: As I told you earlier, Security Forces have withdrawn from several civilian areas. Paddy and other agricultural lands have been given back to the civilians to a great extent. The Security Forces are remaining on State land and they are not forcibly acquiring any civilian lands. In certain areas they have come forward to pay compensation for the lands they have earmarked for development activities. There is no such thing like expanding the military. The Army is paying the rent for certain private buildings in their possession. However, the Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Udaya Perera along with Minister Douglas Devananda are in the process of working out a scheme to provide new and better lands for those who have been displaced from specific areas which have been earmarked for development activities in the North. The Government is spending billions of rupees for agricultural and fisheries activities in the North. Therefore mainly State lands are earmarked for development and not for military purposes.
Q: The TNA is constantly mentioning that the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) has no powers and you have the upper hand in the administration of the NPC. What do you say about that?
A: It is ridiculous. I am carrying on my duties with the powers vested in me constitutionally. I would like to ask what the TNA-led NPC is doing with the powers what they have? I play a supportive role in the development activities. The funds allocated to the Northern Provincial Council are not properly utilized for development activities. Rs 1.35 billion has been allocated for the NPC by the government for this year. So far only 1/3 of the funds have been spent by the NPC. Rs 27,000 billion has been allocated for several development projects. There are allocations for education and health sectors. However, instead of focusing on development activities, the TNA keeps on saying that they have no powers to carry out their administration.
Q: What is your observation on the functions of the Northern Provincial Council so far?
A: They have convened 16 meetings including the Provincial Council Board of Ministers so far, but have done hardly anything with regard to the development activities. They talk about police powers, but it has to be decided by the President according to the Constitution. I look forward to extend my support to stabilize the NPC administration further.
I don't have any issues with the Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. We respect each other. I am a Government servant. I carry out my duties on the directive of the President. The TNA may have its political differences, but I always look forward to assist the NPC administration in my capacity as Governor.
Q: What are your future plans as
Northern Governor?
A: I have already initiated several plans in the North. One of them is the trilingual programme. Already, around 2,000 people have enthusiastically enrolled in the programme. I believe this will play a great role in enhancing reconciliation between the North and South.
With regard to the development of the fisheries sector, sea food processing plants have already been setup in Mannar and in the Jaffna Peninsula. Sea food processing plants have already been setup in an export oriented manner. The plants have provided job opportunities for a significant number of young men and women in the North. With the expansion of train services to Jaffna we will have more interaction between the North and South with regard to trade and industrial activities.
The North is now booming; almost all leading banks have expanded their activities. Several leading department stores and shopping malls have opened their branches in Jaffna.
Whenever I go for a walk in the morning I see the smiling faces. There is music everywhere. People are relaxed. Schools are functioning smoothly. Tamil expatriates who come from abroad have praised the present state of Jaffna. Therefore I will continue with my service whole heartedly for the people in the North as Governor Northern Province for the second time.
