The Bodu Jana Peramuna (BJP), the political wing of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) would be a crucial political force in the country by 2025, BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera said today.

The thera said that their decision to contest the upcoming general elections as the BJP was intended to spread their ideology among the people and not to make personal gains.“There is political instability in the country at present. Political parties are in shambles and as such we will not join mainstream politics. Current politicians only want what’s best for themselves and their political parties but we will put the country first,” he told a news conference.

He said the BJP would create a National Political Agenda and that the party’s office bearers and manifesto would be made public in a week.

Commenting on the upcoming general elections, the thera said they would contest from 15 districts and said they were considering the requests by the people to field at least one monk from a district.

He said their objective and the ideology would focus on safeguarding Buddhism, the Sinhalese community and the country from the threats they were facing.“We are not attempting to create divisions among communities. The word ‘Bodu’ in the party name means intelligence. Therefore, as long as the person is intelligent, we will welcome people from all religious and ethnic backgrounds,” he said.

The Thera said the party symbol ‘Cobra’ means ‘Great’ in Pali language and it reflects the protector of water reservoirs. “Cobra is harmless and it would expand its hood only when someone threatens them in their territory,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)