EPDP, a Tamil party, fields two Buddhist monks to contest General Election

• Both monks to contest from the Colombo  District 

By Yohan Perera   

Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Party (EPDP), a Tamil party led  by former Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda, has created history by  fielding two Buddhist monks and thus becoming the first Tamil party to  field a Buddhist monk.   
Buddhist monks Venerable Kiriebbanare Vijitha Thera and  Venerable Udawalawe Jinasiri Thera will represent EPDP from the Colombo  District   

“I decided to contest the General Election from EPDP led by  former Minister Douglas Devananda in order to bring about national  reconciliation. Our sole effort is to bring in national reconciliation, and we do not go after positions. We want to build one Sri Lankan  nation,” Venerable Vijitha Thera told the media after handing over  nomination.   
The EPDP list in Colombo District represents all these communities namely Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese.