JHU dissident MP begins campaign, supporting Wickremasinghe

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 November 2005, 08:30 GMT]
Venerable Uduwae Dhammaloka Thera, dissident parliamentarian of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said he will begin his election campaign in support of Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, presidential candidate of the United National Party (UNP), Tuesday from Navagamuwa Raja Maha Vihare. About 200 Buddhist monks and 1000 youths will participate in his campaign in the districts of the south of Sri Lanka, Venerable Uduwae Dhammaloka Thera said in a press briefing.

"My sole aim is to ensure victory for Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe who can bring peace to the island," said Venerable Uduwae Dhammaloka Thera.

He said his campaign would begin with religious observances in the Navagamuwa Raja Maha Vihare.

The JHU, the Sinhala extremist Buddhist Monks party has 9 members in the Sri Lanka parliament. The party is opposed to the Cease Fire Agreement and the Post-Tsunami Jonit Mechanism deal.

Venerable Uduwae Dhammaloka Thera has not attended any JHU parliamentary group meetings for several months due to difference of opinion with the party leadership.

After JHU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse to support him in the presidential poll on 13 conditions, including the abrogation of P-TOMS agreement and to find political solution to the ethnic question on the basis of the unitary form of constitution, the dissident parliamentarian openly declared his support to Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe.

Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse is contesting the election as the ruling party United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JHU) is also supporting Mr.Rajapakse.