The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), a paramilitary group that was once closely linked to the Rajapaksas has reportedly refused to contest under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) lotus symbol, leaving the party scrambling to find alternative partners in the Tamil homeland.
The EPDP, led by Douglas Devananda, has historically aligned itself with Sinhala nationalist governments, acting as a pro-government Tamil paramilitary group accused of crimes such as assassinations and abductions. However, following a significant electoral setback in the last parliamentary elections—where party leader Devananda himself failed to secure a seat—the EPDP is now seeking to rebuild its standing independently rather than continue as a junior partner to the increasingly unpopular SLPP.
For years, the SLPP commanded influence across the Sinhala heartland, capitalising on Rajapaksa’s war-time legacy and Sinhala nationalist rhetoric. However, following the economic collapse in 2022 and mass protests that led to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation, the party’s support base has fractured.
A party insider admitted to the Sunday Times that during the height of SLPP’s power, the EPDP was effectively forced to contest under the lotus symbol. Now, with the SLPP in decline, the EPDP appears to be distancing itself, leaving the SLPP’s northern electoral prospects in jeopardy.
For the EPDP, the decision to reject the SLPP’s lotus symbol appears to be driven by political survival rather than principle. Devananda’s party has long been accused of collaborating with successive Sinhala nationalist governments, enabling militarisation in the Tamil homeland, and suppressing dissent. However, after failing to secure seats in the last elections, the EPDP is also looking to rebrand itself.
Read more from the Sunday Times [here](https://www.sundaytimes.lk/250309/columns/filling-stations-list-savvy-npps-charge-falls-flat-fuels-fact-check-calls-591509.html).