Ape Janabala Party (AJP) will take measures to appoint Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero as its national list MP after Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera resigns from his MP seat, AJP President Saman Perera said.
He said Ven. Rathana Thero had requested to remain in the seat as an MP for only three months and had decided to later hand over his parliamentary position to Ven. Gnanasara Thero, after AJP general secretary, Ven. Wedinigama Wimalatissa Thero nominated himself to the seat.
Following the General Election, the AJP had decided to appoint Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero to fill its National List seat in Parliament.
Ven. Rathana Thero promised to give Ven. Gnanasara Thero the parliament national list seat three months after his appointment. However Ven. Gnanasara Thero had said that it was not an issue if Ven. Rathana Thero occupied the seat even for six months.
Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, had received a total of 67,758 votes in last year’s General Election.
Ven. Rathana Thero contested the election from the Gampaha District. He was a National List MP of the United National Front in the last Parliament.
Ven. Rathana Thero was sworn in as a Member of Parliament on January 5.
The Party Secretary said that they are getting ready to appoint Ven. Gnanasara Thero as a Member of Parliament after the resignation of Ven. Athuraliye Rathana