Dunesh Gankanda decries discrimination by UNP
Vows to do politics with President Party leadership insensitive to people’s issues
UNP MP Dunesh Gankanda, who was sworn in as the State Minister of Environment in the new government, decried that he could not deliver the promises made during the last three and half years sufficiently and the party leadership was not sensitive to accede to his requests in this regard.
Addressing a function of assuming office, he said he was not influenced by anyone in taking this decision to join the new government. He said he would not repent on his move. “I will stick to my decision. Actually, 40 odd MPS of the UNP phoned me during the last couple of days and asked me to rejoin them. They arrived in my house. I did not budge from my position. I am still an UNPER. I want to serve my people. I remained an MP for 11 years. Our leadership was not sensitive to the issues confronting our people. Finally, I chose to do politics with President Maithripala Sirisena,” he said.
He said the UNP and the Gankanda family were entwined.
“My ancestors toiled hard to form the UNP along with its founder leader D.S. Senanayake. Even before that, my ancestors had rendered a yeoman service in social and cultural arena in Pelmadulla as their base. There were a number of temples started with the initiatives of those in my family line. Chandra Gankanda is my father. He worked as the Pelmadulla organizer for the UNP. Until then, this was a SLFP stronghold. It was changed by my father,” he said.
He also said, “Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe promised to give Cabinet posts to those who won their electorates. I entered Parliament along with Ms. Talatha Athukorale in 2004. Not only she but also many others who were elected to Parliament at that time are Cabinet Ministers today. If I were given a Cabinet post, I could have done a lot of work for my people. I was the Deputy Minister of Water Supply during the 100 day government. My Cabinet Minister got the chance to give 600 employment opportunities whereas I got only 58. The World Bank granted multi-billon assistance for water supply project. Ratnapura was also included as an area for development. I, as the Deputy Minister, implemented a lot of projects. Yet, I was stripped of my portfolio. Certain politicians started ridiculing me. I complained this to the leadership but in vain,” he said.
Besides, he said he was appointed the Deputy Minister of Disaster Management. “As the Deputy Minister, I got 40 employment opportunities. Yet, I was fortunate to work under the magnanimous leadership of my Cabinet Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. I asked for financial allocation from the then Prime Minister for staff enhancement and acquisition of advanced technological equipment. But, I did not receive any,” he said. Mr. Gankanda said that the Cabinet Ministers, close to the Prime Minister, could secure enough and more employment opportunities to be given to their supporters.