Political Party
Devananda and the EPDP entered politics in 1994 when it contested the 1994 parliamentary election as an independent group in Jaffna District. Most of the district was under Tamil Tiger control and so did not vote, allowing the EPDP win nine parliamentary seats with just 10,744 votes (0.14%), of which 9,944 votes came from the EPDP controlled Jafna islands. The EPDP became an ally of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her People's Alliance (PA) government.
At the 2000 parliamentary election the EPDP won 50,890 votes (0.59%), securing 4 of the 225 seats in Parliament. In October 2000 Kumaratunga appointed Devananda as Minister of Development, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of the North, and Tamil Affairs, North and East.
At the 2001 parliamentary election the EPDP won 72,783 votes (0.81%), securing 2 of the 225 seats in Parliament. Devananda lost his ministerial post following the change of government.
At the 2004 parliamentary election the EPDP won 24,955 votes (0.27%), securing 1 of the 225 seats in Parliament. Devananda was reappointed Minister of Agriculture, Marketing Development, Hindu Education Affairs, Tamil Language & Vocational Training Centres in North when the United People's Freedom Alliance, the successor to the PA, returned to power. He was appointed Minister for Social Service and Social Welfare by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2005. There are unproved allegations of corruption against Devananda.
Read more about this topic: Eelam People's Democratic Party
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