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| Sunday, 22 February 2004 |
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Politics |  |
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New chapter in political history: 286 Buddhist priests in the fray by E. Weerapperuma Turning a new page in the political history of Sri Lanka since independence, Jathika Hela Urumaya will field 286 Buddhist priests led by Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera to contest the April 2, General Election under the "Hak Gediya" (Conch) as its symbol. In the political history of Sri Lanka a Reverend pastor was nominated to the 1931 State Council and for the first time in independent Sri Lanka, a Buddhist priest, Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thera from PA was elected from Southern Province to the 12th Parliament in the year 2001 General Election. This year Ven. Samitha Thera will contest from the Freedom Alliance and it will be interesting to see how many Buddhist monks would be returned to Parliament at the forthcoming election. Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera will lead the group in the Colombo district. The group include Ven. Rajawatte Vappa Thera and Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera. In the Jaffna district Gen. Vitharandeniye Medhananada Thera. Pura Vidya Chakravarthi Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera will be nominated from the National List. Nominations from the United National Front, the United National Nidhahas Sandanaya and Jathika Hela Urumaya are expected to hand over their nominations beginning from tomorrow, Monday. The UNF and the Freedom Alliance have finalised their list of candidates. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and the Ceylon Workers Congress will field their candidates on the UNF ticket and in the East, the SLMC will fight under the Tree symbol. The TNA will contest under the Federal Party symbol the House. Eksath Janatha Nidhahas Sandanaya is composed of SLFP, JVP, MEP, SLMP, Desha Vimukthi Janatha Party, Jathika Samagi Peramuna, CPSL, LSSP and SLMC Athaulla Faction. By Saturday morning only ten recognised political parties and 33 independent groups had handed over their nominations. The parties are Eksath Samajawadhi Peramuna, Sinhalaye Maha Sammatha Bhooomi Putra Party, Jathika Sanwardena Peramuna, Ruhunu Janatha Party, Sri Lanka Pragathisheeli Peramuna, Liberal Party, Nava Vamansika Peramuna, Tamil National Alliance, Sri Lanka Jathika Peramuna and Jathika Hela Urumaya. By Friday, the Jathika Hela Urumaya which has all 286 Buddhist Monks as contestants handed over their nominations to Colombo and Jaffna districts. * Jathika Sanwardene Peramuna - Colombo, Galle, Puttalam, Kurunegala and Badulla, * Nava Vamansika Peramuna - Nuwara Eliya. * The Sinhalaye Maha Sammatha Bhooomi Putra Party - Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Puttalam, Ratnapura and Vavuniya. * Eksath Samajawadhi Peramuna - Galle, Matara, Batticaloa, Puttalam, Digamadulla, Moneragala and Badulla. * Sri Lanka Pragathisheeli Peramuna Kurunegala, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Moneragala and Kegalle. * Ruhunu Janatha Party - Puttalam, Kandy, Matale, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, Kegalle and Ratnapura. * Liberal Party - * Tamil National Alliance - Trincomalee. * Sri Lanka Jathika Peramuna - Colombo. * Jathika Hela Urumaya - Colombo and Jaffna. Nominations were handed over by 33 independent groups to contest Puttalam, Matara, Ampara, Gampaha, Kalutara, Digamadulla, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Kandy, Trincomalee, Galle and Hambantota. One interesting feature at this election is the LSSP and the CP which joined the Freedom Alliance will not field their star candidates for direct fight at the polls but would get their names included in the national list. They signed the MoU with the SLFP on Thursday. DEW Gunasekera (CP and Dr. Tissa Vitharna (LSSP) signed with Freedom Alliance Secretary Susil Premjayantha. Former MPs Indika Gunawardene, Raja Collure and DEW Gunasekera the leading stars of the CP will enter the National list. The CPSL will contest Matara, Hambantota, Colombo, Ratnapura and Anuradhapura. The LSSP will contest Colombo, Kalutara, Kegalle and Galle. The former UNF Ministers Imtiaz Bakeer Markar and Tyronne Fernando may not contest the election. There is very likelihood of including former Minister Tyronne Fernando's name to the UNF National List. |
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