KEGALLE: In a groundbreaking moment for Sri Lankan politics, A.G. Chanu Nimesha, Secretary of Women’s Affairs for the Socialist Party of Sri Lanka (SPSL), has become the first transgender individual to contest an election in the country’s history. Nimesha will be running as a candidate from the Kegalle District in the upcoming General Election on November 14, under the banner of the SPSL, a far-left political group known by its “Balloon” symbol.
Nimesha, who has long been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, expressed her gratitude for this unprecedented opportunity. “I am thankful to Sri Lanka Socialist Party for giving me an opportunity to contest the General Election and thus creating history by fielding a transgender candidate to contest an election for the first time,” she told the media.
Her candidacy is a potential watershed moment for the LGBTQ+ community in Sri Lanka, where open discussions around gender identity and sexual orientation have often been met with cultural and legal challenges. If elected, Nimesha could become the country’s first openly LGBTQ+ Member of Parliament, signaling a significant shift in the nation’s political and social landscape. Reflecting on the momentous nature of her campaign, she posted on Facebook, “Number 01 from Kegalle District is a special person.”
Nimesha’s journey to this historic candidacy is steeped in personal and political struggle, according to a report published in ‘Ceylon Today’. Born in Kegalle, she was raised in a politically active household. Her father, a member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), ran their home as a party office during Nimesha’s childhood. At the tender age of 14, Nimesha witnessed the brutal repression of the JVP rebellion, culminating in her father’s death at the hands of state authorities, forcing her into hiding and shaping her early political consciousness.
Despite the personal trauma, Nimesha remained politically engaged, initially supporting the JVP. However, disagreements with the party’s policies led her to break away and join the Socialist Party of Sri Lanka, which is currently led by Mahinda Dewage. Dewage himself had contested in the recent Presidential Election.
Reflecting on her life and the difficulties she has faced, Nimesha stated, “Rejections led me to be politically active.” She has chosen not to disclose her birth name, identifying solely as Nimesha, a social activist who dedicates her efforts to advancing the rights of marginalized communities, particularly the LGBTQ+ population.
As the election date draws near, Nimesha’s candidacy represents not only a personal victory but also a potential turning point for inclusive representation in Sri Lanka’s political arena
