World’s first Buddhist monk mayor assumes duties today

Venerable Wewelduwe Gnanaprabha Thero is to create history today by becoming the world’s first Buddhist monk to hold the post of mayor, Sri Lanka’s Buddhist monk party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), said.

The venerable Mayor is to assume duties tomorrow at the auspicious time of 11:22 a.m. at the Embilipitiya Urban Council.

Ven. Wewelduwe Gnanaprabha Thero says that he will work to relieve the electorate comprising nine village officer areas from the underdeveloped infrastructure.

The Thero contested the local government election from the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) under coalition party JHU ticket and achieved 5,895 votes, topping the preferential list.

However, the ruling party initially decided on handing the top post to the candidate who had polled the second highest preferential votes saying the Thero could not be appointed to the post as he was a Buddhist monk.

The Thero’s appointment to the mayor position came following a protest fast held by him demanding that he be appointed as the chairman of the Embilipitiya Urban Council.

(www.colombopage.com)