Mrs.Ferial Ashraff met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and accepted her membership to join SLFP at Temple Trees on 18th February-pic Nalin Hewapathirana

Q: What was the rationale behind joining the SLFP? A step that you’ve taken in the direction of mainstream politics?

A: The motive behind it was a lot of thinking. For instance, if I go back in history, when Sri Lanka gained independence, Sri Lankans were together. There was no Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim issue. But along the years, the two-party system came about and in 1978 after the change of our constitution, there was an issue about the Tamils and Tamil youth. Tamil people by then started feeling that their concerns were not being met and their issues could not be brought out or dealt with without power being attached to it. And we in our party, when we discussed this issue, realised that this could have been the reason why parties on ethnic lines came up.

Then came the Indo-Lanka Accord where the Muslims of the Eastern Province mainly from the District of Ampara, a majority to reckon with, felt that they were ignored. And by these districts being brought together they became a minority within a minority. I remember at that time, Ashraff was only a lawyer and when he tried to meet up with the President and discuss issues, he was chased out of that place. There was a question about whom he was and what right he had to speak to the President. Issues of that nature made him form the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. And true to his word, he went to parliament and spoke on every issue bringing out the concerns of the Muslims, and along with that, got the Muslims together to a greater extent.

As much as he addressed the intellect of the Muslim community, he also spoke to their emotions and that was a good reason as to how he was able to bring the community together. So, in many ways he was able to help the Muslims in addressing their issues, and also very keen to see that the needs of Muslims were met while he worked with President Kumaratunga. And along the way I think he also felt that being a Muslim and being a representative of the Muslim community he could keep the community together as a bargaining tool for whatever was not enough.

And he felt that he would not be able to go very far. He also believed that the Muslims should also have direct links with the President and that the three communities as a whole should discus issues and go together if at all we were to bring solutions to the burning issues of our nation. And then he started – the National Unity Alliance (NUA). And he was working very hard especially in the Eastern Province to try and bring the communities together. And he did that to a great extent.

And on the verge of the NUA growing up we lost him. In the infant stages of the NUA, thereafter, when I took over, I in my own little way was able to work with the NUA only in the District of Ampara. I don’t think I have the capacity to go beyond Ampara, more so because my total entry into politics was one that was rigged with controversy being a Muslim woman. But after a lot of opposition, I managed to survive with the NUA for 9 successful years. To me it’s an accomplishment (Allahdillah – thank Allah). And mostly, I’m very happy for what I’ve been able to do.
But After May 19, the end of the war, a whole lot of issues had to be dealt with. There is a necessity for these communities at least now to work together and also to be able to respect each other as Sri Lankans.

So, when we attended our regular meetings, we thought of how we should move about – we felt it was rather selfish on our part to talk about unity in diversity, keeping ourselves away from the main political parties. There was a time, there was a stage, when it was a requirement for the communities to be represented. But now when the country, as a whole, wants to move forward to a new direction and when His Excellency the President also wants to give leadership to a new thinking we felt that it was nothing but right to offer our support for a national cause rather than being outside and also talking about national unity.

And we also felt that all of us, with our own little parties couldn’t keep talking about national unity when we ourselves were so divided. It didn’t make sense when major parties, the opposition and ruling both wanted to bring about a better understanding amongst our community. We didn’t understand why we should be ‘out’standing. And then after a lot of discussions we thought it was better to be with a national party where the decision would be made at that party level because that’s the main party.

And we also felt that maybe we would be left out by being outside when we did not have our representatives at the main party, especially someone from the East where a lot of issues are of which the community was not clearly represented in the main parties. Because it would be the main party discussing issues and only after that, approach the alliance. We felt that now it was time for us to be in the main party where we could voice our views there and be representative of our communities within the main party. Of course, we had a choice of the two main parties and we chose to join the SLFP hoping that we would be able to also help in bringing about a positive change for Sri Lankans.

Q: But isn’t this going against the objective your husband, the late Mr. Ashraff set out to do when he established the SLMC.

A: No, because I think I am with that objective still. He at one point, felt that the main parties were not representing the community well enough which is what led him to establish the national alliance. He felt that the main parties were not doing it. So, he wanted to come up to the level of the main parties and have a third party for the country. But now we feel with the present day scenario that his Excellency the President is also wanting to do something similar. I don’t think we have the capacity to duplicate what a party that has a history of 50 - years is doing. So, about Ashraff being the founder of his party and what he has done – there is no issue there. All of the good work that he did when with the SLMC and then NUA is accepted.

No issue about it. But if merely because I consider it important to respect Ashraff that I stick on to the party and be the leader of that particular party merely because he started it and I want to keep it that way, I don’t think I serve any purpose. The whole idea is that I take forward the vision that Ashraff had. I would truly prefer to go into details of the core of the matter of issues that mattered rather than sitting there as a leader of a political party and not doing much. If it is an emotional attachment that I have for Ashraff, if someone were to ask me, how come you are doing this to him, my respect, my love for Ashraff is totally different. That may not be connected to a political party or leadership or whatever. When he was there, we were there with him fully;

10 - years after his death, we still continued with the NUA. I carried it 10 - years forward all for that vision of his and I wanted it to be so. In my own ways, I feel like I’ve been able to make progress where the relationship between the Muslims and Sinhalese were concerned and to a degree with the Tamils as well. So, I have been able to do this and I feel I could do it better with the support of a large party. My view is towards reaching the same goal.

Q: Do you feel that Muslims everywhere in the country would be getting a better deal with having you join the main party as you say?

A: Now see, when we have a small party and we talk, we talk of smaller issues and it’s a small group of people who hear me out and it’s easy for me to get the message across. But how far does it go. When we sit together it’s the people of my district and everything is fine. But there are 21 other districts. How does the message go to them. And when the main political party sits and discusses issues is there anybody there representing our district. So, don’t you think its better for us to make others aware also of what our issues are when their goal too is to bring about the same equality for all Sri Lankans? As I said, it’s only being very selfish to sit outside and remain a political party and leader. There was a time for it. But now I think it has done its term. It is also important to identify when you are needed and when you’ve got to give up.

Q: So what would become of the NUA then?

A: There is no question about what is going to happen to the NUA. That’s something time will have to answer. Most of those with me at the NUA also crossed over. We leave it to time, to the society and dear old Sri Lanka. I don’t think it would die down. Things don’t die down like that do they? But we assume that if the purpose for which we started a political party could be met that there would be no necessity for parties to mushroom the way it has in the last few decades.

Q: But do you feel that being in the mainstream, the Muslim community and the parties that represent them will have a say?

A: I was not representing the Muslim community. We had the national unity alliance and I had the votes of both Muslims and Sinhalese from the district that I came from. But of course, in a mainstream party will be identified by the religion I represent. And I have a feeling that I would have a better and larger forum to bring out matters.

Q: What would your role be in the SLFP?

A: No particular role. I think I will have to wait until the elections are over to decide what I’m going to do within the party. But right now after I joined there is also another member to the SLFP from the East. So, there are two now until the next election. We do not know whether we are going to win or not. But I am very optimistic in that I will be able to bring out certain issues into the framework of a larger political party and to be able to discuss matters in a more meaningful manner with people who perhaps hold entirely different viewpoints.

Because what happened in the NUA is that we had people who thought alike. We seldom had contradictory ideas being thrown at us. But now the scenario is different. Things have changed and people understand that issues need to be looked at differently. As much as we have racism in all our communities we also need to get out of that skin.

Q: What are the grievances of the Muslim community that you would like to highlight?

A: There are many issues that need to be addressed and concerns that need to be heard. I come from the Eastern province and education is one such issue that I would like to tackle. We don’t have much of a problem there because we are a majority and we are able to sort out our issues. Also, when you take Muslim schools all over the island where at times there is just one school per district and then there is the issue with teachers, language and then the issue of Sinhala teachers not being able to go to Muslim schools due to timetables. So, who is speaking for them? If I were to spell them out, there are so many.

Where the communities are concerned there are issues of land distribution etc. In that sense, decisions that are being taken at a level when they were not previously are blown out of proportion and become political issues. There is a lot of room for decisionand merely being in opposite camps and making noise at parliament has not made a big difference.

Talking about Ashraff, I remember Ashraff always coming out with this thing. He used to say it’s important to do the right thing at the right time. The right thing at the wrong time or the wrong thing at the right time is not going to work. So, you’ve got to be very alert, especially when you are representing somebody. Things keep moving all the time. So it’s up to you to spot the right time to make that move. I feel that Allah has helped me at the right time and we need this change.

Q: The President has expressed interest to downsize the cabinet. If that were to happen, what are your chances to staying in?

A: I am a believer and thereby I am able to take up a lot of issues without much agitation. If the requirement is to downsize the cabinet and if they also feel they have better people to do the job, I may think I am fit for the job, but what does the country think. So, I leave it to the future, time and society again.

Q: At this point in time, is the goal to achieve a 2/3 majority in parliament plausible?

A: We are working towards winning a 2/3 majority. It happens to be the need of the hour. We all know the electoral system of Sri Lanka has to change. I think corruption begins there. So we need changes there, we need changes in the constitution, in the powers of the executive presidency – the whole country agrees that all this needs to be done. So, yes we are working towards a 2/3 majority and with the mandate that the president got this time, I don’t think it’s impossible. ~ courtesy: The Nation ~