The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday announced that it would field Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka to contest the Colombo district at the parliamentary polls from the UPFA.

A statement issued by the JHU said the decision to field Minister Ranawaka from Colombo was based on a wide variety of reasons including his unwavering commitment to national integration over the past twenty five years, his feat of converting the Environment Ministry as a profit making institution from a loss making body after his takeover and his efforts to raise global awareness on sustainable development which saw him being elected the President of the Parties to Vienna Convention in 2008 for a period of three years.

JHU Deputy Secretary and WPC Minister Udaya Gammanpila has reminded in the statement that it was Minister Ranawaka who was the ‘philosopher’ behind the ‘Mahinda Chintanaya’ manifesto of 2005 as well as ‘Mahinda Chintanaya’ vision for the future manifesto of 2010.

Mr. Gammanpila also observed that it was the young JHU minister who played a leading role in the formation of the National Sangha Council (1995), National Movement Against Terrorism (1998) Sihala Urumaya (2000) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) organizations which provided the ideological backing and also mobilized masses against the LTTE terrorism and preserved the unitary character of Sri Lanka.