Minister of Justice Ali Sabry speaks to Newswire’s Kalani Kumarasinghe on his support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the dynamics within the SLPP, and the Government’s recent apology over the controversial COVID-19 burial policy.
- How do you feel about campaigning for a person that you worked against your entire political journey?
That’s part of politics. I think it’s important rather than stubbornly sticking to the parties and the people, we need to assess the current challenges and the priorities and accordingly you must put the country before everything else.
Therefore at this point in time, what is important is the country. Particularly the economy, and we must elect somebody who could face those challenges. That’s why I’m supporting him.
- You have repeatedly said that stabilising the economy is important. Given that, don’t you think that a person like Dhammika Perera is also positioned well to help the country at this juncture?
I have nothing against Mr. Dhammika Perera. I like people who have experience and affluence coming and running it. But the problem is, when you run a country, it’s not only about the economy itself. It’s about several other things, like the foreign relationships, the economy. the experience of running several ministries, and then the law and order situation as well as administration.
I think this is not the time to do any sort of experiment in my opinion. So taking all that into consideration, I feel, when you look at the holistic picture, an experienced person who can deliver results —last two years comparatively — that’s what the international community tell me, I think that’s why President Wickremesinghe is better suited.
- The SLPP has decided to stand alone and field their own candidate. What do you think is happening here
I really don’t know. Basically, they have some sort of an organization which I’m not a part of, only 16 members of the Parliament are a part of it. They have decided that way. But when I talk to anyone, most of them, ministers, my colleagues, members of the parliament and also the ordinary members… I think the vast majority are of the opinion that we must support President Wickremsinghe. They are of the opinion that he commenced a remarkable journey to recover the economy and it should not be disturbed at this point in time. That’s what most of the MPs, Ministers, whom I associate think.
Do you think this majority group is undecided about whom they’re supporting?
No, 92 members of the Government party, out of about 118 decided to support President Wickremesinghe. So I think most of them will support President Wickremesinghe.
- MP Namal Rajapaksa has been very vocal against the President. What are your thoughts on this?
I think everybody is entitled to their opinions and that’s what a democracy is. He must be having his own reasons. This is not about past parties and the politicians or the personalities, right now given the choices put before us, the majority of the SLPP, MPs and general membership are of the view that the President is the right choice now. So we respectfully disagree with Honourable Namal Rajapaksa, who is a good friend of mine. At this point of time, we do not subscribe to his opinions, but he is entitled to it.
- Is the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa backing President Ranil Wickremesinghe
I really don’t know, you must ask him.
- In a recent interview you had said that you envision a common Sri Lankan identity. Do you think President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the person to achieve this, if at all it’s possible?
I think so. I’ve been working with him over the last two years. He sees everybody’s problem as common, and he’s vociferous in standing up for a common solution. He’s one person who has been courageously coming out and telling that the 13th amendment should be there and it should be implemented. So it’s not an easy thing to do in the Sri Lankan context, just before a Presidential election. I think out of the choices available to us, he is one of the most suited persons.
- The government recently extended an apology to the victims of its COVID-19 burial policy. The timing of this was curious, was this an effort to win the votes of this particular community?
Not necessarily. We have been working hard on that. You can’t just do it. We needed to prove, I mean it was obvious when the WHO said so, but most of the arguments that was put forward against this by the so-called technical committee, Dr. Channa Perera, Dr. Meththika Vithanage and the group.
We had two reports done, one by Mr. Vasudeva Nanayakkara’s initiative at the time because he was the Water Minister, and then thereafter my colleague Jeevan Thondaman. So those reports were available there, we debated that and some time ago, I brought that into the Cabinet. They wanted to differ it at that time. Ultimately, with the availability of all those reports.
I thought that was the time to do the right thing. There is nothing called there is a right time. But I know that it’s better late than never. that’s we’ve done and of course we have followed it up with a new law, which I suggested, drafted and put before the Cabinet. Cabinet approved this new law to ensure the people’s right to choose their mode of burial in case of a pandemic like issue. The only exception is when WHO recommends only one mode of disposal, that’s the only exception, otherwise people should have the right to decide what is right for them and their loved ones.
It’s not about politics, it’s about doing the right thing, and that’s what we did.
- Who do you think presents a bigger challenge for the President and the Government at the moment, the NPP or the SJB?
I think both candidates are strong candidates. This is an interesting election, let the people decide on the 21st of September
