Will get together with Mahinda and contest for next election - Niroshan Premaratna

Thrown out from ITN

"Will get together with Mahinda and contest for next election" - Niroshan Premaratna

Niroshan Premaratna who presented news and other programmes on Independent Television Networks during

the former regime is no longer to be seen now.

It is learned that he has got thrown out from ITN and is following in the footsteps of Mahinda now and it is reported that he is anticipating to contest at the forthcoming General Election. He has confirmed about it, expressing his views to a weekend newspaper.

Is is it true that you Niroshan is coming to politics?

Yes. I have got a proposal of that sort. Because of that I decided to contest at the General Elections.

Do you think that just because you have become a popular announcer, the public would send you to parliament?

I have existed in this society not only as an announcer. As a school-student .... I have been to two schools. I was at the university also. I was at the ITN for 13 years. The way I lived in these societies and the way I related to the society .... I know. Those who associated me closely .... know me best. Nobody has found fault with me at any time over anything. There are no criticisms against me either. Because of that I am on a level where I can go to village and win the preference.

Then contesting from where?

From South ... from Matara.

From whose side?

By this time... I am also on the side that suggests bringing on ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the position of Prime Minister.

If this proposal is rejected, will Niroshan's political journey too come to a halt?

It's the masses who have to reject, isn't it. The best example for it is the Nugegoda and Kandy rally. In the future .... more public opinion will come forward. As such neither will he be rejected. Neither will my onward journey stop.

You who was there for 13 years at the Independent Television got thrown off when the government toppled. Is your political comeback a result of that?

Not at all. There's no connection with Independent Television with this decision. Now I am 33 years old .... an age where decisions could be taken .... isn't it. Though I haven't embarked on politics from this family environment, I have been reading this social politics and living in it. This decision is its result. Sometimes even if I were in another party I would have taken this same decision.

Were you Niroshan, removed from the Independent Television because of your political ideology?

Inside the institution I have never ever got involved in politics. As a human being I did have a political ideology. But I at no time connected it with the institution.

Then how did that happen?

What had to happen ... happened. At that time of course I was not on a permanent basis .... no. It was possible to be stopped from service at any moment. I had to go home even when the United National Party came into power in 2001. Again I came when the government changed in 2003.

If the government topples .... Niroshan, is it possible to go back to Independent Television?

No .... I have no idea of working as an announcer anymore. In any case .... I was to bid goodbye to the profession of announcer in a few more months. I had even told those who were close to me.

Discussion -- Nimesha Savanthi Rajapaksa