The Island Home News Page Three Tuesday 6th April, 2010 3 Following are excerpts from ry, prominent actors like Reagan, we could be able to develop the support the president. of health. I too was depressed an exclusive interview The MGR, Jayalalitha and our own film industry. President Mahinda at the time but never allowed US Consulate in Island had with The ‘Crowned Gamini Fonseka entered the Rajapaksa is a lover of the cine- Q: To win the war, while my mental strength to decline, Queen’ of Sri Lankan Silver political arena. I mainly thought ma and keen to work for its President lead the political due to this illness! I thank all Screen Malini Fonseka. of supporting the President upliftment. front, General Fonseka lead my relatives, friends and above Pakistan attacked because he has eradicated terror- the war front. How is that you all my fans for their support PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) – Militants Q: What brought you to ism from our country. Then I was Q: No, my question was opted to back President and the blessings. exploded four bombs in quick succession London this time? asked to contest a seat. I politely whether you have got a plan Rajapaksa and not Gen. Monday close to the U.S. Consulate in the north- to resurrect the industry? Fonseka? Q: In the Western world western Pakistani city of Peshawar, police and A: Yes,I will first study the A: I respect General Sarath people openly discuss their witnesses said. sector Fonseka for his contribution to diseases. Will you set an Gunfire was briefly heard close to the heavily Malini on why she the eradication of terrorism. But example to the Sri Lankan guarded and I respect he was helped by Navy, Airforce, women placed in the same fortified building in Peshawar, said police offi- General Sarath Police and Civil Force. It was the situation as you? cer Aziz Khan. supports President President who gave orders to all A: Yes, I have helped a lot Two of the blasts took place around 20 yards Fonseka for his contribution of them, both as head of State of them silently, in my own “ (meters) from the main entrance to the building, and Commmander in Chief. Had way.I always encourage them to the eradication of terror- an Associated Press reporter close to the scene Rajapaksa the President stopped the war not to lose heart and approach ism. But he was helped by because of the immense interna- their problems bravely. I am said. Huge plumes of smoke rose high into the Navy, Airforce, Police and tional pressure from western planning to start a well being air. TV footage of one of the blasts suggested it A: The film Akasa Kusum declined. Then they placed me on Civil Force. It was the countries, nobody could have centre for women in the future was a car bomb. in which I played the main role, to the National List. Also, I may defeated terrorism. Therefore for on a large The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad confirmed President who gave orders the consulate was the target of the attack, but has been selected for Asian Film say this at this juncture that, “ me it was a very easy choice scale. Festival in London and I came to because of the war, our Cinema to all of them, both as head gave no more details. It was unclear if the con- participate in the celebration on industry has completely gone of State and Commmander Q: In case being elected to sulate itself was damaged. their invitation. down. If I enter parliament, I in Chief. the parliament how would Earlier Monday, at least 19 people were may be able help to resurrect the you strike a balance between killed and more than 100 injured when a suicide Q: Was the film success- industry. your political career and act- bomber attacked a political party rally elsewhere ful? ing? in the northwest. A: Yes of course, it was Q: In the past, some of that will be allocat- A: I am not so busy as I Al-Qaida and Taliban militants have long very successful. So far, we have our artistes became politi- ed to me and then make a realis- used to be in the 70’s and 80’s.So, won awards from Indian, Italian cians but they couldn’t do tic and an achieveable plan. I am sure, I will be able to play vowed to attack the United States, which has and French film festivals. After much service to the cinema. both roles without difficulty fired scores of missiles at them in their north- this festival in London, it has Have you got any specific Q: Why are there so many with out any conflict. western strongholds close to the border over the been selected for the Singapore plans ? artistes in politics in to poli- Q: You were not well last 1 1/2years. film festival which will be held A: Yes, our prominent actors tics this time? for a while. How are you on April 15th to 24th. There may like Gamini Fonseka and A: I don’t think a large feeling now? be a special screening of the film Ravindra Randeniya entered pol- number of artistes got into poli- A:The doctors have ‘Mahinda Chintana in London again in May 2010. itics but they couldn’t do what tics. Having said that, I think been carrying out var- Q: Some people cynically they expected to do due to the 99% of the artistes support the ious medical tests on Magic’ not working ask : What politics for war situation But if there is now current President to show their me for the last five BY ZACKI JABBAR artistes? a peaceful environment in the gratitude. They are not actively years and they have A: But if you look at histo- country and I am confident that engaged in politics, They simply given me a clean bill The government predicted that the econ- omy would grow by 6 per cent in 2009, due to the policy stimulus package offered by the ‘Mahinda Chintana’, but now admits it was a mere 3.5 per Ranil vows to cent, the UNP said yesterday. Economist and UNP Harsha National List nominee at this week’s parliamentary election, Harsha de Silva told ‘The Island’that appoint CC various spokespersons for the govern- ment, had said that Sri Lanka was immune to the vulnerabilities and “The media is being attacked regularly. The SIRASA/MTV office shocks of the global economy due to in Colombo was attacked recently. What happened? The culprits the ‘Mahinda Chintana Magic’, but “ were now finding irrelevant excuses. who“ were taken into custody for this offence by the Slave Island Police were “Sri Lanka’s growth rate has to be granted Police bail. They were given Buriyani to eat, and not pro- compared with the Asian region and duced in a Court of law. Everyone knows the political thug behind not the West. India, despite facing these attacks. many difficulties, grew by 7.2% in 2009. That was because unlike the BY LAL GUNASEKERA Everyone knows the political thug Mahinda Chintana, they implemented UNP and UNF Leader Ranil behind these attacks. He is being shield- prudent economic policies.” Sustainable growth, cannot be Wickremesinghe said that steps will be ed by top politicians of the government. achieved by unlimited high cost for- taken to appoint the Constitutional Media personnel are threatened and eign commercial borrowing, de Silva Council after the UNF forms the gov- physically attacked. Some have fled the said. ernment following Thursday’s country.There is no media freedom. Unless the government under- Parliamentary Elections. He said he The State media is shameless” stands, even at this late stage, that it hopes that President Mahinda Wickremesinghe said. needed to change its ill conceived polices and encourage direct foreign Rajapaksa will not again reject The cost of living had and domestic private investment, he the names that will be nominat- become unbearable to the peo- said Sri Lanka will not be able to ed. “By this, we will be able to ple, but when questioned, match the development achieved by its reactivate the Elections President Rajapaksa says that Asian neighbours. Commission, Police it is due to the war on terror- De Silva, said that it was obvious Commission, Public Service ism, he said: The war ended in the so called ‘Mahinda Chintana Buddhist monks who commenced a fast unto death opposite the Fort Railway Commission and the Judicial May last year (2009). But the Magic’, was not working and the soon- er its architects realised their folly, the Station demanding the release of General Sarath Fonseka refused to disperse Services Commission. We will COL continues to soar and the better for the country and its people. when requested by Police, they were bodily carried into a waiting bus and taken also once again reactivate the government has no solutions. to the Fort Police station. There were four monks and a few other supporters Bribery Commission, whose Ministers are making money. who were arrested. Policemen in civvies seen carrying a monk into the bus. – term expired end March.” Even those with houses draw a rent (Photo – Kamal Bogoda) Speaking at a rally in Mount allowance of Rs. 100,000/- per month. Lavinia last week, he said with one This is cheating, but they cannot pay stroke of the pen, President Rajapaksa the Rs. 2,500 salary increase they prom- could have made the 17th Amendment ised the government servants during Cyprus gets new Hony.