{"id":23391,"date":"2013-07-28T18:29:35","date_gmt":"2013-07-28T22:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=23391"},"modified":"2013-07-28T21:12:03","modified_gmt":"2013-07-29T01:12:03","slug":"if-people-who-voted-for-me-think-my-decision-to-leave-the-unp-was-wrong-i-will-be-defeated-at-the-elections-dayasiri-jayasekara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=23391","title":{"rendered":"“If People who Voted For me Think my Decision to Leave the UNP was Wrong I will be Defeated at the Elections”-Dayasiri Jayasekara"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

Dilrukshi Handunnetti<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Dayasiri<\/a>

Dayasiri Jayasekara<\/p><\/div>\n

Former Kurunegala District Parliamentarian, Dayasiri Jayasekara, who quit Parliament and the United National Party (UNP) last week to contest the forthcoming North-Western Provincial Council election under the ruling coalition\u2019s banner said, he had no regrets about leaving a political party that had no future.In an interview with Ceylon Today, Jayasekara said it was a misconception to believe only the Centre was capable of delivering and expressed a strong desire to work at the provincial level and did not rule out the possibility of becoming the next Chief Minister of the Province.<\/em><\/p>\n

Excerpts from the interview:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: Your exit from the UNP was speculated for at least a couple of years. Did you decide to quit when you have the opportunity to run for Chief Minister\u2019s post?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: For everything there is a time and a reason. I stayed the course for 13 long years before deciding to quit. I am too young and too interested in being able to contribute to this country\u2019s developmental process, of being able to drive positive change at national, provincial and district level, to continue to bury myself in the UNP. It has no future as it has no prudent leader. There is no hope for people like us there.<\/p>\n

I did not quit with the intention to becoming the Chief Minister as some speculate, though I now want to dedicate myself completely, to winning this election for the UPFA. I have a proven track record. The President will do me justice.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


\nQ: Did you quit at this moment of time because you received instructions to do so?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: If you’re insinuating that I was acting according to directives from the government, the answer is no. I followed my own conscience and decided, according to my own timing.<\/p>\n

I am a grassroots politician, able to move with people. In that sense, I do not belong to the elite force within the UNP, catering to the needs of a select few and completely unable to feel the pulse of the ordinary UNP voter. I quit because it was clearly the end of the road \u2013 at least for me. I tried to remain within the UNP and contribute to a democratic struggle within the Party ranks. But false reports were produced by the Disciplinary Committee, faulting some of us for things we never attempted. Legitimate dissent was equated to a criminal act.<\/p>\n

For my commitment and hard work, for carrying the UNP banner through its most difficult days in opposition, I was humiliated, demoted, false allegations levelled against and unfair disciplinary inquiries initiated, to suit their own ends.<\/p>\n

I won\u2019t say it was an easy decision, but I had to. I have too many years of politics left in me still, and I want to be useful to my constituency in any way I can. I am glad it\u2019s over, finally because it had been years of squabbling, confrontations and unhappiness. I am ready to move on.<\/p>\n

Q: Were you offered a ministerial portfolio at any time? Would it not have given you a better opportunity to serve your constituency?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Yes, I had offers, but I turned them down. I never wanted to switch sides for a portfolio. That would have been far easier than this.<\/p>\n

There are several senior people from the North-Western Province (NWP), who have proved national level leadership. I decided to become active at a lower level, and to present myself before the public, for political endorsement.<\/p>\n

We neglect, to our collective detriment, the provinces and the districts from where we gather our votes. I think all these levels need to be strengthened and the provincial arena is going to prove interesting.<\/p>\n

Q: You speak with a strong conviction about electoral victory and your own place at the provincial level. Have you been promised the Chief Minister\u2019s position, in the event of an electoral victory?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I have not been promised anything and I have also not asked for anything. But I am of strong faith that the President would offer me, what I am worth, after the election.<\/p>\n

I am excited to work at the provincial level and am energized by the welcome I have already received. I was welcomed by the UPFA supporters, naturally, but I was overwhelmed by the affection the UNPers showed, after my defection. That was a new political reality for me: That I am liked by both the government and UNP supporters. It provides me with a new political foundation to work on. I will rise above the divisive politics that prevail at present and bring all these people together, to work on a developmental agenda that will benefit all.<\/p>\n

Q: You were championing the reformist cause within the UNP for the past few years. Is it fair to leave in this manner, when Party loyalists expect you to clamour for change, within the Party structures and in leadership?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: God knows that I tried and how hard I tried. Many others did the same, before defecting. They all went with a heavy heart because they were driven out by a constitutionally-elected autocrat. We opposed this practice of gagging people and approving only those who follow his dictates. That\u2019s not what a democratic Party with a modern outlook should be about.<\/p>\n

Some are still providing leadership to the same old struggle. I wish them luck. As for me, I have decided that enough is enough.<\/p>\n

Q: You were a staunch advocate of internal democratization. What specific things led you to this decision, finally?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Our blood, sweat and tears went unrecognized. We were labelled conspirators for demanding democracy within the Party, not from the government. Those who held different views were expelled through ex parte trials.<\/p>\n

There was no end to it, and I was growing tired because all we could see was, not the desired change but mass exodus, because the leadership was busy driving its most promising members from the Party.<\/p>\n

I used to be bitter and unhappy. Now I intend being happy and productive.<\/p>\n

Q: You have been an arch critic of the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration. How comfortable are you, now becoming a member of the same team?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I cannot eat words uttered by me. I have to live with them and with the positions I have taken.<\/p>\n

I will learn to work within this new setup and to be a useful member. In fact, I entered politics from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).<\/p>\n

Q: Does this negate the criticisms you continuously levelled against the current administration?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: It does not. We will raise our voices when necessary and where necessary. At present, I am truly energized by this opportunity to serve my constituency and it can be done best, as a government member. You have the resources, both financial and human.<\/p>\n

Q: What about the UNPers who voted you and made you the top candidate on the preference list? Don\u2019t you owe them some loyalty?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I will always be loyal to them and appreciate them for making Dayasiri Jayasekara who he is. They gave me wings to fly and I will not chop them off by forgetting them. They can always come to me and I will remain dedicated to serving them.<\/p>\n

I was elected with 132,000 preferences and I have tried my best to serve them. Instead of accepting a portfolio and crossing over, I chose to quit, without insulting those loyal people. Now I will go before all of them again, and seek a fresh mandate. If my decision was wrong, then I will be defeated at the election.<\/p>\n

When I opposed the UNP leadership, I represented their disgruntled voices. When I quit, I represented still, the deep disappointment they feel.<\/p>\n

However, many will defect from the UNP, from various districts. This cannot be stopped. The only way to prevent complete erosion to the point of political irrelevance is for the UNP to find a new leader with leadership and public appeal. It is not our fault if the UNPers shun their own leadership. COURTESY: CEYLON TODAY<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti Former Kurunegala District Parliamentarian, Dayasiri Jayasekara, who quit Parliament and the United National Party (UNP) last week to contest the forthcoming North-Western Provincial Council election under the ruling coalition\u2019s banner said, he had no regrets about leaving a political party that had no future.In an interview with Ceylon Today, Jayasekara said it …<\/p>\n

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