Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake has accused “black sheep in the United National Party (UNP)” of ousting him from the Finance portfolio and charged “they have not even come through the popular vote.”
He said he had raised the matter with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and declared that his good performance to revive the economy had irritated his detractors in the party. Even President Maithripala Sirisena had said a month ago that the economy was doing very well.
Karunanayake answered questions posed to him at an interview at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was interrupted by the continued ringing of his mobile phone. He was forced to respond.
The new Foreign Minister exclaimed “How wonderful. Very good, Very good!! That is superb. How long will you take to come here (the Foreign Ministry). I asked why all the excitement. He replied that a second in command to his Ministry has been appointed. That was Wasantha Senanayake, a UNP parliamentarian from the Polonnaruwa District.
Here is Karunanayake’s response to the questions posed to him:
Question: You may perhaps feel disappointed or even let down upon being removed as Finance Minister. What do you think were the reasons?
Answer: I won’t say I am disappointed. At least it is an elevation if one looks at political stature. Yet, it was rather surprising that such changes did take place. I think when you look at it no post is permanently yours. However, it was the manner in which it was done, that was both surprising and mysterious.
Q:
Why do you say that? Was there any allegations or have you been faulted for mishandling the economy?
A:
It was quite the contrary. Our public debt was reduced. Even our President (Maithripala Sirisena) declared a month ago that the economy is doing very well. That makes the change even more intriguing. Is it due to my success that these things happened? Our economy is definitely in better shape. There is no question about it. The economy we inherited in 2015 from the previous Government was akin to a grenade with the firing pin removed. We have managed to neutralise it. We have steered it clear. The revenue, which was 10% of the GDP is now almost 15% Prices of major items have not changed since 2015 leaving the Cost of Living at a manageable level. We brought in a sense of financial discipline. International donors were happy. These are some of the positive sides. The economy that was downgraded was given a positive outlook.
Q:
Can you elaborate. What do you think in your view could be the reason?
A:
I think there is nothing surprising to those who are aware of what has been going on. Each political party has their own black sheep. The United National Party (UNP) is not devoid of that. There are certain people who have not come through the popular vote. They have been nominated through the National List and try to run the UNP to the detriment of the party. And we have one of them who thinks he can do anything and everything. I strongly believe it is time to call a spade a spade.
You cannot compromise people’s integrity, hard work and commitment to take the country and the people way forward. One person and his cohorts are standing in the way.
I believe President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe trusted and gave me the Finance portfolio after the presidential election on January 8 2015. I was re-appointed again after the May 2015 parliamentary elections. We stood firmly against corruption. There was no nonsense. It sure would have irritated some. That is why we are facing this type of situation. This has become the norm. It should not happen to people who have proved their ability. This has been acknowledged both locally as internationally.
Q:
Are you saying that within the UNP, your own party, there are person or persons trying to undermine your achievements?
A:
Oh yes! Oh yes!! Absolutely. I have no qualms about it. I know that both the President and the Premier did their very best to navigate this difficult situation. They (those behind his ouster) seem to have over-ridden that. That shows the sinister pattern that has come to light. There was an ulterior motive which is quite surprising.
Otherwise, how come Ministers like Arjuna Ranatunga and Chandima Weerakkody become targets like me? The same vested interests were at work. One person is leading the effort. I will expose them as well as their actions in due course.
Q:
Have you raised this with the Premier Wickremesinghe who is the leader of your party?
A:
I have done so. I have been a person who has stood by the party and represented it in Parliament for 24 years and made many sacrifices. I have all the right to raise this. The question I posed is if this could be done to us, what happens to other people who try to emulate the same? Loyalty and efficiency are aspects always recognised by our party. I have the courage and the wherewithal to speak out, to say this nonsense should be stopped.
Q:
You were in the forefront of the UNP presidential and parliamentary election campaigns in 2015. Reports spoke of your being considered for a top slot when changes are made in the party. Would you accept that?
A:
I am a team player. We find solitary guys who are always on the fence trying to derail the team effort. Fighting is not the answer. Exposing their heinous acts will have to be done. This is not a playground for a singleton and his mates. It behoves on us to have this sense of good governance in the party. Our supporters expect that and it will do well to the country too.
Q:
What about foreign investment?
A:
The investment drives are there. This is an area where greater attention is needed. Who is heading investment coming to the country today? Why are they not performing? We have managed to get a few things done. They were spill over from the previous regime.
Q:
Do you believe if you continued as Finance Minister, it would have been able to bring about a greater turn around in the economy?
A:
My successor (Mangala Samaraweera) is embarking on the same journey as I did. I hope the same robustness will continue.
Q:
Coalition politics prevented you from implementing your budget proposals. Was it because they were considered bad?
A:
If it is bad, it would not have been approved on more than three different occasions.
Q:
The ‘populist packages’ like the pay rise of Rs 10,000, reduction in fuel prices etc – were they hurting the economy? The Government had to raise funds to meet shortfalls.
A:
None of them had an impact. The credit for that should go to the President and the Prime Minister.
Q:
On seeking IMF bailout packages:
A:
We have withstood pressure that came from the IMF. I don’t believe they can prescribe to this country what we know better. We know what was going on. We are a knowledgeable Government. There were certain issues on which we took a tougher stance. That toughness also earned us respect. Certainly there were taxes and benefits withdrawn. I was a vocal critic of that.
Q:
On the subject of corruption, there is public criticism that the promises you made during elections to deal with corruption have been forgotten. You were also one of those who made several public statements about dealing strongly with the corrupt. What is the position?
A:
I guess the best is to ask the people who handle it. There is a kind of speed and efficiency in the way of handling. I can only say there is a lot of discussion but better ask those who are handling it.
Q:
On claims that you are linked to former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran’s family. Can you comment?
A:
This is ludicrous. We have been family friends for years. His son-in-law and my grandfather were known to each other. Arjuna’s father was a diplomat. The family are also good friends of Premier Wickremesinghe. I cannot see why any insinuation has to be made. The Treasury bond issue has nothing to do with the Finance Ministry. It was something completely outside. It is incumbent on me to defend the Prime Minister when something wrong is said of him. They alleged that I colluded with Raj Rajaratnam (the stock broker who is now jailed in the United States for insider trading). The person who worked for him is the head of the Central Bank. He is a good person. The point I am making is that they wrongfully accuse others. If you are swimming along with the corrupt, it is okay. When you oppose it, you become a target.
Q:
You have made commercial diplomacy as your main focus. Can you explain?
A:
Yes, that will no doubt be the main focus. But we have not abandoned human rights. We are also committed to non-alignment. Human rights issues came due to the aberrations of the separatist war. My predecessor did a superb job. We have to work on other aspects – re-organising our diplomatic missions, the quality of the people going in, and the service that is being rendered. We have to increase our export potential. Both the President and the Premier told me that is is the Foreign Ministry that can unite Sri Lanka with the outside world.
Courtesy:Sunday Times