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National Heritage Party ජාතික හෙළ උරුමය ஈழ மக்கள் கழகம் | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero |
| Chairperson | Ven. Hadigalle Wimalasara Thero |
| Secretary | Bandula Harishchandra |
| Founded | February 2004 |
| Preceded by | Sinhala Heritage |
| Headquarters | 047/3A Denzil Kobbakaduwa mawatha, Pannipitiya road, Battaramulla |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Right-wing to far-right |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
| National affiliation | Samagi Jana Balawegaya |
| Colors | Orange |
| Parliament of Sri Lanka | 0 / 225
|
| Election symbol | |
Conch | |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (abbrv. JHU; Sinhala: ජාතික හෙළ උරුමය; Tamil: ஈழ மக்கள் கழகம்), less commonly known by its English name the National Heritage Party, is a Sinhala Buddhist nationalist political party in Sri Lanka. The JHU was launched in February 2004 by the lay-based, Sinhalese nationalist political party Sihala Urumaya.
Founding members include Kolonnawe Sumangala Thero, Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero, Ellawala Medhananda Thero, Omalpe Sobhitha Thero,[1] Athuraliye Rathana Thero and Thilak Karunaratne. Some Sri Lankan Buddhists, including the All Island Clergy Organization, denounced the decision by monks to enter politics. The party drew support mainly from the middle class conservatives and the Buddhist youth.