Water Minister Vasu remains fluid; won’t resign despite Govt. decision to seek IMF help
■ He now says will quit only if Govt. accepts the Fund’s conditions that go against public welfare ■ Hits out at Basil, says Finance Minister has his own agenda within the cabinet
Aday after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sacked Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila from the Cabinet, Water Supply Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkara announced he would be “stepping away” from his duties and will no longer attend Cabinet meetings.
He made the announcement at the news conference fronted by his two sacked colleagues and other representatives of the Government’s 11 constituent parties whose relationship with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has turned increasingly bitter.
It was, however, the public attacks made by Ministers Weerawansa and Gammanpila against Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa during the launch of the “Mulu Ratama Hari Magata” (Taking the Nation on the Correct Path) policy statement on March 2 that finally prompted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to sack them. This was after the Finance Minister informed the President that he would no longer attend Cabinet meetings if the two ministers remained at their posts.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Minister Nanayakkara explains his actions, why he and other constituent parties are so opposed to Minister Basil Rajapaksa and his position on Sri Lanka deciding to seek the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bail itself out of the economic crisis. Excerpts:
There is no question that the Government as a whole has to take the blame for whatever happened because we are collectively responsible. But Honourable Basil Rajapaksa has his own mind and his own agenda within the Cabinet. We saw that by the way he decided on the agreement with New Fortress Energy (which transferred 40 percent of Government owned shares of the Yugadanavi power plant).
■ What is the status regarding your Cabinet position?
A: I remain a Cabinet Minister. I have not resigned and I have not been sacked. There it remains. I have no plans to resign at the moment. I don’t go for Cabinet meetings as a protest and I do not use the privileges of the ministry, again as a protest. I have handed over my official vehicle and residence.
■ Are you daring the President to sack you?
No. I did not become a minister for privileges. I have given up those privileges as a mark of protest and have said I will not attend Cabinet meetings over the decision to sack the two persons.
■ But given that you hold such a vital ministry, does that not affect its work?
I don’t go to the Ministry, but I do attend to its work from a distance (working remotely).
■ Is this a genuine protest of solidarity with your sacked colleagues or mere political theatre on your part?
It’s not political theatre. I would call it political engagement.
■ But some might say that you are trying to jump off a sinking ship?
Of course, one could say so because the Government is in difficulty and in distress. We are not leaving because of that. We are taking up the position of protest regarding the persons who were sacked because of the principle of the right we have to present a set of proposals (Mulu Ratama Hari Magata document) that we recommend should be carried out by the Government. That should be considered by the Government with patience.
■ What is your position regarding the Government’s decision to go to the IMF? You have previously threatened to quit if it happened?
No, my position is that any IMF conditions which go against the well-being of the people should not be accepted. If the Government accepts and enforces such conditions, then of course, my relationship with the Government is over.
My understanding is that IMF conditions that deal with social welfare packages in place for the people will not be touched. The IMF has been asked to officiate in the negotiations for the restructuring of our debt. I don’t mind if they officiate for that purpose.
■ Why are you so opposed to the IMF?
Because of the welfare of the people, not anything else. The welfare of the people, the national development; all these are at grave risk if the IMF conditions are complied with.
■ But didn’t your one-time leader Dr. N.M. Perera also approach the IMF when he was Finance Minister?
No. He attended IMF meetings because we are a member of the IMF. That was all that happened during his time as Finance Minister.
You and the other constituent partners have been critical of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Why is that? Is the present situation entirely his fault, or do you not accept that the Government is collectively responsible for what’s happened?
There is no question that the Government as a whole has to take the blame for whatever happened because we are collectively responsible. But Honourable Basil Rajapaksa has his own mind and his own agenda within the Cabinet. We saw that by the way he decided on the agreement with New Fortress Energy (which transferred 40 percent of Government owned shares of the Yugadanavi power plant).
That agreement went against our sentiments and against our understanding of the national interest. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
What of the President and Prime Minister in this crisis? Are you not critical of their role?
The President is actually not the key individual. In the Cabinet, it is the Finance Minister who holds the key because any proposal or Cabinet paper needs his sanction. The President presides over the Cabinet.
■ Q: But it was the President who ultimately sacked Ministers Weerawansa and Gammanpila?
Yes, he was the one who responded to it (public criticism of Finance Minister).
■ So, are you saying that the President is being manipulated by the Finance Minister?
Well, the Finance Minister is behind it. We all know that.
■ The country is in a difficult situation right now. What are your proposals to resolve the crisis?
The proposals were set out in the “Mulu Ratama Hari Magata” policy statement. They mainly involve cutting back drastically on non-essential imports to save dollars. Another proposal is to invest in graphite mining which can bring a large amount of foreign earnings through developing graphene. We are also taking a strong stand on foreign exchange regulation. The deregulated position of exchange needs to be regulated.
■ What about your future with the Government? Are you willing to contest with the SLPP in future or are you planning to go your own way?
I was elected as a Member of Parliament of the SLPP-led Alliance. There is the SLPP party. I am not a member of the SLPP party. Whether we contest together (with the SLPP) or separately depend on the politics of the day.