Monk for Sri Lanka's President?

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 2009, 12:22 GMT]
The Janasetha Peramuna (JP), one of the newly formed political parties recognized by the Commissioner of Election, has decided to field a Buddhist monk as its candidate to contest the Presidential Election expected to be held in January 2010. "We will be nominating Ven. Battaramulle Seelaratana Thera, the leader and general secretary of our party, to contest the elections," said Ven. Bambarawane Dhammananda Thera, the Chairman of Janasetha Peramuna, addressing a media briefing held at the party headquarters at Talangama South, Koswatte Saturday.

This will be the first time in the political history of Sri Lanka that a Buddhist monk will be contesting a presidential election, he said.

Addressing a news conference, the prelate said Janasetha Peramuna would be fielding candidates for the forthcoming provincial council election.

"We will also be contesting the forthcoming parliamentary poll. We have been in the process of setting up party offices and appointing organizers to strengthen our base island-wide," the chairman said.

Ven. Seelaratana Thera, the prospective presidential candidate said the Janasetha Peramuna opted only for honest people capable of doing a job of work with profound commitment to represent the party. "We need those who can render selfless service to ease human suffering. We will not condone dishonesty, injustice or thuggery," the prelate stressed.

He said that Janasetha Peramuna continues to forge ahead to serve the poor masses without any support or assistance for any other political party.

The party’s national organizer Ven. Wanela Sambodhi Thera also associated with the press conference.