The Prime Minister has agreed to answer your questions

We will continue to update the site as we receive more answers. Please keep the questions coming.

We have had a huge response to this Q&A and we will try and get answers for as many of your questions as possible.

Below are the PM's answers to some of your questions.

Q: I have visited northern Sri Lanka recently and I found almost all of the police officers working there cannot speak Tamil language. Why can’t your government correct this mistake?
Jeya, Toronto, Cananda

A: I would like to see a public service that is conversant in all three languages. I will welcome a situation where any citizen is able to relate to the public services in their own language.

Q: Please help get monies from tsunami to rebuild homes etc. I was visiting SL and as you know there are people still living in tents. Please help.
Jehan Wanigatunga, USA

A: You would also surely have noticed that the trend has been for people to move from tents and camps to temporary houses, and from there to permanent housing. The process of constructing permanent houses takes time. The process involves finding land, putting up the houses, providing roads, water and electricity to the newly settled communities and so on. All this cannot be accomplished overnight. But I must emphasize that government agencies with assistance from NGOs are building a large number of permanent houses to be given to the affected free of any charge.

Q: There are signs of increased racial hatred in Sri Lanka with the tsunami aid deal. Do you think a possibility of another war supported by Tamils abroad?
Alan, UK

A: My own view is to the contrary.

Q: Do you think the JVP is going back to violence? If so how is the government going to stop it?
Jayanthan Jayaratnam, UK

A: There is no reason to think so. Hence your second question does not arise.

Q: I heard that you will be one of the Presidential candidates. For a country to bloom people should be united. What I have seen during the past few years is that racial problems have risen. I want to know what have you done so far and what will you do to remove this racial thinking and unite Sri Lanka as one nation and united people, who can be proud to be Sri Lankans?
Zafrulloah, Sweden

A: What is imperative is that we should take all steps to ensure that we have a system in place where talent is recognized and rewarded irrespective of a person’s ethnic or religious identity, and all communities are able to live in peace and harmony while equitably sharing the opportunities and resources available in the country.

Q: Why do you spend a huge amount on defense when people are suffering? Why do you spread Buddhism in Tamil areas? Why can’t you spend that energy in preaching peace?
Jagan Kanagaratnam, Chennai, India

A: As there was an armed conflict for more than two decades it was the duty of the government to safeguard its citizens and therefore the government had to spend a considerable amount of money on defense. Although there is a ceasefire agreement in force, it is not possible to reduce the defense budget appreciably until a lasting solution for peace is established. I am not aware of any movement to spread Buddhism in areas where Tamil people live.

Q: In what ways are you prepared to actively support a movement that encourages peace and harmony between different ethnic and religious groups in Sri Lanka?
Sakaran, UK

A: In every possible way, because this is the major challenge that faces our people today.

Q: Is your government or elements of your government involved in activities against the government of Maldives in collaboration with opposition groups of Maldives?
Ahmed Azim, Male, Maldives

A: We respect the government of the Maldives with whom we have had very close and cordial ties of friendship. Moreover, we do not interfere with internal affairs of any country.

Q: What is your prediction about future of Sri Lanka in five years time and how are you going to achieve it?
Jana, Stanmore, UK

A: I am very positive about the future of our country. The future of Sri Lanka, in my view, is that of a country in which the different ethnic and religious groups live together with dignity in peace and harmony, and where the country’s wealth is shared in an equitable manner.

Q: What are your plans for the electricity industry of Sri Lanka? Do you think it is necessary to privatize the industry?
Rohan Wickramasinghe, Colombo, Sri Lanka

A: Industries such as electricity could be restructured in such a way that all persons participating in production, including management, become active stakeholders in the wealth produced, while the industry itself does not lose sight of its role in the economy as the provider of a common service for the people.

Q: If you become the President who will be the Prime Minister?
Rohan Wickramasinghe, Colombo, Sri Lanka

A: According to our constitution, it is the prerogative of the President to appoint the Member of Parliament who in his opinion is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament.

Q: Isn’t it a fact that all governments who came to power since 1977 have never been able to counter the superior bargaining power of doctors and private bus operators? Why has govt become so helpless against the doctors and the private bus operators?
Chamath Ekanayake, Colombo, Sri Lanka

A: I think it is because governments have not thought ahead, anticipated and studied the grievances of these segments and addressed them in advance before they can become difficult issues.

Q: How can your government deny all allegations of corruption when its presence is obvious within your government?
Isabella Swynford, Chicago, USA

A: No allegations of corruption have been leveled against the present government since it came into power in April 2004.