A PROMISE TO DELIVER , Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, is one of the young Cabinet Ministers of the current Government. He started the winning wave for the , with the Uva Provincial Elections that many do not remember today. The Minister speaks about the need to deliver on the promises made as every politician’s duty to his electorate. Many plans have been made to develop Badulla and the . The sectors of telecommunication and digital infrastructure too are going through a massive change. There are extensive plans being formulated but delivery is the key.

By Udeshi Amarasinghe Photography Menaka Aravinda and Mahesh Bandara

Harin Fernando, Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure

2 BUSINESS TODAY SEPTEMBER 2016 businesstoday.lk businesstoday.lk SEPTEMBER 2016 BUSINESS TODAY 3 Who is Harin Fernando? Why did you join the UNP at that time? I was the vocal person of the group and I Harin Fernando is a citizen of , a I am not from a political family and we had to contest against a . That was politician and father of two children. Born in were not UNP or SLFP. But I always supported the biggest challenge. This was not in Colombo Wattala and representing the people of Badulla. the UNP. I was probably about three years either, which would have been easier. It was Currently holding a post of a ministry that is old and we were living in Ratmalana at that very difficult to get the campaign off the trying to create a digital revolution in Sri time. My father knew former President ground. Lanka. J R Jayewardene. He took me for a function The Prime Minister asked me to contest the where I had to wear a ‘national’ and garland Uva Provincial Council elections, I agreed on How did you enter politics and can you the President on stage. From that day onwards the grounds that the party should unite. elaborate on your journey thus far? I always supported the UNP. That was the only I spoke with Sajith about it and he agreed. I did not have any idea of getting into reason for me to support the party. My first This election would incur a great cost because politics because I wanted to be a pilot during interaction with any political party was with it was an election against a Rajapaksa. We my school days. I went for my higher studies to the UNP. Ever since that time I have been needed to gather momentum, my father who Australia to specialize in management as my following the green. was my greatest funding source backed out parents did not want me to be a pilot because Politics at times is similar to a cult and because he had supported me to get into they felt that I did not have the patience to do people do not generally decide on principles. parliament previously and did not agree with so. Once I returned to Sri Lanka I started But for me when I started learning politics I this move. The Prime Minister went home and working in a logistics company. During this preferred the centre right, liberal thinking, convinced my father who finally agreed but did time I had a small fallout with my father, therefore I focused more on that type of not fund the campaign. which made me leave Colombo and go to political thinking and culture. I was one of the This was the best experience in my life, Badulla to start a small business. youngest because when I resigned from Parliament to It is in Badulla that everything started. I You resigned from Parliament to contest the politicians in contest the election I said I will come back to fell in love with the people of that area. I got Provincial Council elections. It is with you Badulla and the Parliament again and that I will come back married from Badulla; my wife’s family was getting the highest number of votes in the Uva only as a minister. As such when I returned to UNP was losing involved in politics. They gave me the Province that the tide changed for the UNP. Parliament it was a very emotional moment for opportunity to get into politics. At that time What can you tell us about this? heavily at that me because I had said that without thinking to there was a huge vacuum in the district in Many people have forgotten this day. time. I had the keep the morale high. When I won and actually terms of leadership and everyone rallied The Prime Minister, Hon , opportunity and came back to Parliament and was appointed as together to support me. I was one of the Hon , my family and I: it was the platform to a Cabinet Minister I started to believe that youngest politicians in that area and the UNP the few of us who decided I should contest work with there is a God above. was losing heavily at that time. I had the the provincial council elections. While we The intention during the Provincial Council unbeatable. Generally, when the people start to opportunity and the platform to work with were in the opposition there was a group everyone and election was very clear. We worked together as feel tired of the Government they will want to everyone and build up the confidence. of us; Ruwan Wijewardena, , build up the a party. The people wanted a change and the My campaign teach a lesson. That can happen to any of us , and confidence. manner in which the people of Uva supported slogan was very easily. You should not get comfortable in Why did you enter politics? . We used to meet every week me was phenomenal. Words cannot describe your positions and you have to always be with I do not think any politician knows why at Ruwan’s house and we would discuss how they came around. I spent only about 20% about change. the people. they got into politics. If they say it is because matters till the early hours of the morning. We of what the other side spent on the campaign, People knew My campaign slogan was about change. they wanted to do something for the country would discuss on how we could think out of the but we were able to gather momentum. The that the Uva People knew that the Uva election will not that is not really true. But being in politics box for the UNP to form a Government. We had best example of how the people can change is election will not bring about a change in the country but the pushes you to get you there at some point of no alternative because everything we were Uva. bring about a people in Uva believed in me. This also your life due to various reasons. I probably got doing was going against us and we had The only reason I cannot sleep now is that validated a point the UNP was still an active there because of my passion in wanting to internal party issues as well. We were thinking I know that I have a responsibility towards the change in the party. We rose from 29 per cent to 44 per cent achieve something in life. I also realized that of how we could turn things around. people who supported me. They have done country but the and with our partners we became 51 per cent. there is a limit to what you can do alone. The The Western Provincial Council elections their part and it is now my time to deliver to people in Uva This created a great change in the perception greatest thing about doing politics is that your were held prior to the Uva Provincial Council them on the promises that were made. believed in me. of the country and they realised that the UNP vision will be carried on. You can really get the elections. At that time we did suggest to This also was up and running. people to follow you so that you achieve Harsha to contest. However, he was not very You mentioned also that in the Uva election When you look at the ethnic and religious a common aim. But if you are just a social comfortable with that because he had entered you contested against a politician who was validated a point breakdown the statistics are similar to the of worker it is very difficult to get that attention Parliament on the National List and did not considered almighty at that time. Can you tell the UNP was still the country. The entire Uva election was taken and support. have the experience of contesting an election. us about that experience? an active party. as an ideal sample by my Prime Minister on The joy for me is the ability to make what We did not want to push him either because Politics is very unpredictable, this is a good how the people of Sri Lanka will vote. I believe in a reality. In politics you are able to he did not want to go for his first election in experience for us as well. You should never The UNP started to pick up in other areas do that. this way. become complacent and think that you are as well because they started to believe in

4 BUSINESS TODAY SEPTEMBER 2016 businesstoday.lk businesstoday.lk SEPTEMBER 2016 BUSINESS TODAY 5 themselves. Even for His Excellency the industrial zone. Tourism is a key area that we President to leave the SLFP and contest with are looking at, the Prime Minister has a vision the UNP at the Presidential election, the Uva of having 15 resorts in the district. As you results would have given him the confidence. know Haputale and Bandarawela are beautiful If the UNP was not able to garner the support areas. Then Mahiyanganaya: foreigners do not of more than 42 per cent he would not have actually get an opportunity to see and taken the risk. experience our indigenous population the I really do not know to this date how the Veddhas as there are no proper hotels in that former President got it area. There is ample land in the Uva province. so wrong, because I did not expect him to go for We have identified the areas and have planned an early election. He would have still been the a few projects. President. People would have just forgotten the Agriculture is an important sector with Uva elections in a couple of months. But he got over 70 per cent engaged in this field. We are excited, in politics people make strategic and trying to bring in innovation and new tactical mistakes when they think that they are technology to this sector. People do not realize losing in popularity. I did not actually win the how much technology will help them. It is also We have only election, I lost the district by around 5,000 about educating the younger generation. Then three years votes. We did so well but we didn’t win the diary farming is another area that we are more and the election, I didn’t become the chief minister. looking at. Prime Minister Within a few months people would have We have a domestic airport in Bandarawela always says that forgotten about it and I would not even be in now. We are bringing in a foreign university to parliament. But the whole thing turned because Haputale as well. These are some of the many in the first two the former President called for an election. concepts that we are currently working on. years if you do That is why I say that there is a plan above, The Government has taken more than one not do your job everything happens for a good reason. year for all the planning as we believe that we then we will should not do any projects on an ad hoc have to go What can you tell us about your electorate, manner. I am totally against pushing people Badulla? into Government offices. This is what all Politically I have my differences on party lines, I do criticize them as well but we are now one home. I am My electorate of Badulla is very small politicians do but that is not successful. I do but when we formed this national Government team in the national Government. We have happy that within the district. It is one of the smallest not believe in that as well. Minister Nimal I have always respected them. I am the only a common goal to take this country forward. people are electorates but I will consider the entire Siripala De Silva, my counterpart, is a person person who won in all the nine electorates in For five years we want to work on finding fault district. There is population of around who has given many Government jobs but he the Badulla district. But, I am the only one who a common agenda and get the people to work with us...such 900,000, but the number of voters are around lost two consecutive elections to me. I do not got a Cabinet portfolio from the UNP. The SLFP together. Once that works we can go back to 620,000. It is a beautiful district but poverty is believe that by just giving a job you will win. got three: got a cabinet our party lines. expectations at its highest. If you take the AGA divisions out You need to build a knowledge based economy. ministry, and Lakshman For five years we keep us working of the five poorest AGA divisions in the country We need that economic development to flow Seneviratne were sworn-in as State ministers. want to work on You are one of the young Ministers in this hard. three of them are in my district, it is not in into home towns. You need to build that entire I do not complain because I understand the a common government and also one of the young Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota or ecosystem in the village. concept. There is a greater meaning to this politicians in this country, what can you tell us Ampara but in Badulla and Monaragala. As We have only three years more and the national Government; the reasons as to why we agenda and and about this achievement? such it is quite a challenge. Prime Minister always says that in the first formed it and we believe in our President’s and get the people I believe in God and the other is luck. If you take the companies that operate in two years if you do not do your job then we will Prime Minister’s vision. At this moment it is to work I never imagined that I would get here so fast. Monaragala (though it is not in my district have to go home. I am happy that people are not about who I am going to be. People do not together. Once I never thought that I would be a Cabinet Monaragala is in my province) there are only finding fault with us, it should happen in the understand my ministry – Telecommunication that works we Minister at 37. I probably received this post seven companies that employ over 25 first year but not during the last year. Such and Digital infrastructure means nothing to because of my achievement in Uva where I was employees in the whole of expectations keep us working hard and I hope them. It is not very lucrative or sound big can go back to sworn-in as the Chief Minister after so you can imagine how unindustrialized those we will be able to deliver on our promises. enough for people in my area. I understand the our party lines. President won. I toppled areas are. However, you can find enough and scope of my ministry and it will take sometime the council the very next day and I got the more labour in these areas. We have identified In Badulla you are up against veteran for people to realize what I could do with it. At power of the council. The council also certain projects; we will be building one of the politicians of the SLFP such as Ministers Nimal the moment it looks tricky because it seems as respected me because I won a massive amount largest garment factories in the poorest AGA Siripala De Silva and Dilan Perera. Your if I have been treated unfairly but that is not of votes. got 90,000 division in my district. The factory will be thoughts? the case. I am fine with this ministry and and I got 170,000 votes, as such the respect 4,000 square feet. We are laying the foundation My policy has always been to respect my I have the greatest respect for these senior was for me. The SLFP councilors signed the very soon. We are also planning to establish an seniors, off the ground and on the ground. politicians. They have done a lot for the area. document and said that I should be the chief

6 BUSINESS TODAY SEPTEMBER 2016 businesstoday.lk businesstoday.lk SEPTEMBER 2016 BUSINESS TODAY 7 minister. Even I did not expect that. Everything You are the Minister for Telecommunication happened to my advantage. and Digital Infrastructure, can you tell us The SLFP was not happy that I got this post about the plans made for this sector and what and even some of the UNPers were not happy has been achieved since you took over? when I was given this post, saying that I was This is a very important sector – too young. But the Prime Minister had stood his Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure. ground, because he recognized what I had done. Digital infrastructure is a new ministry that was created last year in line with the Prime What can you tell us about the younger Minister’s vision. We are focusing on generation of politicians? connecting people. Sri Lanka’s internet Most of the younger politicians are quite penetration is about 28 per cent, even though educated. It is not like those days; they are no accessability is around 80-90 per cent. That is longer about family bandism. Even if they one challenge that I need to address. The come from a political family they are all very quality of the internet differs in terms of signal educated. I am very happy to see that most of and speed. There’s difference in the speed as them have been around the world, they have well. If the internet penetration increases by 10 studied, they have the proper upbringing and per cent then GDP grows by 1.2 per cent. That This is a very background so it is easy to communicate with is the statistics we go by. We are talking about them rather than with the seniors. I feel very quality internet, not social sites or other such important confident because we speak the same language activities. sector – besides party lines. At the moment it looks This is our driving vision. We spoke to Telecommunica- good. We feel very positive. global innovators such as Google. We are doing tion and Digital The only problem is being with the old age a Google project in Sri Lanka these days where Infrastructure. political thinking would corrupt them. Even the balloon was sent from Brazil. That is an now if the younger generation gets absorbed amazing innovation but we have had a few Digital into the unruly behavior that occurs in issues from our side. The public sector in infrastructure is Parliament that would not be good. That is why Sri Lanka is such that even the Government a new ministry we need to live by example. Even I get carried cannot get things done. The TRC had to give us that was away, there are situations where people say a small spectrum for the project. We had to created last things but you must realize the gravity of what fight our way through and attend meeting after you do. meeting. The process was delayed for six year in line with I have spoken to Namal Rajapaksa as well months. The President and Prime Minister had the Prime as on the need to for the to get intervene as well. If the Google balloon Minister’s vision. younger generation of politicians to inculcate works the entire country will be 4G LTE We are focusing a different culture. The young members of connected. We will be the first and only on connecting UNP, SLFP and the other parties who are in the country to have 4G LTE islandwide. That is Parliament should form a group and we should regarding connectivity. people. change the way politics is done in Sri Lanka. The next important aspect is the content. It is then that the people will start respecting Currently Sri Lanka Telecom is the only service politicians. We have an issue where the people provider to have the fibre optic backbone see politicians as a bunch of jokers. We should license. Whether Sri Lanka Telecom is be happy that we have about 60-70 per cent performing to the timeline is the question. voter turnout. In the Britain and US, they are They do have a mobile arm Mobitel but that worried about the modern population not operates in a very different way. That operates wanting to vote. That is because they do not as a very corporate company, Sri Lanka find anything positive in politicians. That can Telecom operates as a more Government sector easily happen in Sri Lanka as well. in urban company. Out of their operational costs 48 per areas people do not find politicians any good. cent are their salaries. The company is really We need to change this culture and system. struggling to move on. We are not going to If there is only 40 per cent of the population make major changes to it but we want to make voting then there is no point because the it more productive. majority has not given their say in what they We want to push them and make them require the country to do. understand, if they do not perform we need the

8 BUSINESS TODAY SEPTEMBER 2016 businesstoday.lk businesstoday.lk SEPTEMBER 2016 BUSINESS TODAY 9 that will be able to do everything. Once this teachers? We have to first train the teachers. We have signed up with more companies; happens all your medical reports will be Younger teaches are quite eager to learn but Ericcson is one and Oracle is another. accessible to all hospitals, so that the patient the older generation are very scared of A student who is not good with their does not repeat the tests at the Government technology. We have many projects happening books may be good on their computers. That hospital, which will be an additional cost. on the digitalization side. We are very is what we really want the children to do. My ministry has the second largest budget confident that we will be able to do achieve all. We want to create that interest. We want to of 25billion rupees for this year and we have have children gaming centres where a child 348 procurements to finish. We have some of What comes under the purview of your in Colombo will play with another in Jaffna, the biggest projects; cyber security, the Ministry? Galle or anywhere else in the country. They national payment platform, LGC (the local At the moment I have only 3, that is Sri can play simultanueously, which will create Government cloud), which will connect 3,500 Lanka Telecom, Mobitel and ICTA (Information that interest. It is always good to have Government offices with 100 Mbs connection Communication Technology Agency). And it is international exposure, because we need to that would enable all the Government offices to this agency that has 348 procurements to develop Sri Lankan talent as well. Having have digital records. They will not have to type finish. It is a quite a large agency where they international collaboration will help us in the letter by letter or travel for meetings as we will I do not want to do the planning, implementation and rolling long run. provide video conferencing facilities as well. out of projects of the Government’s entire ICT With international brand names, it will be This has all been designed right now. think beyond requirements. easier to convince investors as well. We are The next step is digital education. We will but I just want very focused on job creation as well. In terms have 100 digital classrooms for the first year. to make sure What was your experience working with of job creation we need local entrepreneurs to We just got our budget approved for next year, that I deliver Microsoft? Your Ministry is also working with a set up and begin to manufacture their 500,000 tabs with a keypad will be provided to few other international partners as well. What products. If these international brands are during the next students. We will be giving a tablet to every does this mean for Sri Lanka? confident to tie up with the local brand as their student from grade 9 onwards. The entire three years. We are about to sign an MoU with partners, then the Sri Lankan product will go a curriculum will be on the tab. I have got a Microsoft. They are a fantastic company and long way. That is what we believe in and we I did a pilot project with Microsoft at fantastic what we are trying to work with them is on need a brand as Sri Lanka is still very brand Visaka Vidyalaya, Badulla. I gave four ministry, it can developing innovation centres in Sri Lanka. sensitive. We need to be very careful in market forces to play a role. I have deadlines computers and we had a projector, content and actually touch Microsoft is an expert in the area of technology doing it, as we don’t want to burn a local and I have to fulfill the people’s expectations Microsoft as part of their CSR provided the and innovation. Cyber security is an important entrepreneur out after investing a lot of money so if they don’t perform we will have to bring licensing to all their software. All the 28 every ministry aspect and we are working with them to because we want to make sure they go into the in a competitor to compete with SLT. students in Biology class were given email and every establish a cyber crime centre in Sri Lanka. right partnership with an international brand. Fibre optics has been laid to every city in Sri The next step is accounts and the teacher can email and segment of We want to identify from where the threats are Currently the government is looking at Lanka. But they cannot get the last mile done. correspond with the students on their coming from. It will be on a very large scale converting analog to digital. Analog takes a digital peoples’ lives. There is something wrong. By the end of this homework and assignments. Videos are It is about where every threat will be monitored. large space of the spectrum. The spectrum is year they need to give 100,000 connections. education. We available as well. One girl stood up and told me The amazing part about Microsoft was the highly cluttered and there is very limited The main problem with SLT is that it is too will have 100 that her knowledge was so different from what connecting level of help they wanted to give Sri Lanka. space for expansion. We will be looking at unionized. For a ten-minute work time they digital she would learn from a book. This was the people, there’s They are giving us their licensing free of merging telecom operators because of country will go for work to rule. It is difficult to change classrooms for exact same thing that was on my mind as well. nothing without charge, they will build 22 innovation centres such as Sri Lanka our market requires only their thinking. I have been meeting all the When she said that tears came into my eyes, connectivity. in Sri Lanka in the next five years. Six centres about three main players because in the long unions and explaining to them what they need the first year... because I did not think that they would realize will be established next year. These run none of the small companies are making to do. The officials should really get their act We will be or understand the vision behind it. When they innovation centres will be incubators as well. any money either. together. They are working- I am not saying giving a tablet have these facilities when they can see what These will be next generation communication that they are not working- but there needs to to every student they are learning, education becomes easier centres and not a mere computer centre. Next Steps? be visionary leadership in there as well. from grade 9 and fun. She said that she is from a poor family Microsoft will train Colombo university The biggest responsibility I have right now Someone has to be very focused. from Badulla but with what has been given to students and Moratuwa university students is to deliver. I do not want to be a typical Sri Lanka as a country spends two million onwards. The her, she will be able to compete with any off campus. They will help them get funding politician and tell the people that I was unable dollars a day because of non digitization. How entire student in Colombo because of the equal as well. Young entrepreneurs will be given to deliver this time but to give me another does that happen? As a Government we provide curriculum will opportunity provided. And, that is absolutely 1 million each for a startup in relation to chance the next round as well. I do not want to social welfare benefits to the country, but be on the tab. true because that is what we want to achieve; technology and Microsoft will take it to the think beyond. I just want to make sure that I sometimes there is a duplication of costs. whether you are in Jaffna, Colombo, Badulla or international circle. The reason why we deliver during the next three years. I have got a We have developed a system and from January Ampara you have the opportunity, accessibility wanted an international partner to endorse fantastic ministry, it can actually touch every next year every citizen will have a digitization to go anywhere you want to go in life. the innovation centres was to take products ministry and every segment of peoples’ lives. It card. It is a digital key that will enable you to These are very ambitious plans and there developed to a higher level. If we try to do that is about connecting people; there’s nothing do all your transactions. This is one single card are challenges as well. Do we have the it will be really difficult to market it. without connectivity.

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