Who is Chanu Nimesha, Sri Lanka's first ever transgender candidate?

Chanu Nimesha is vying for a seat in Sri Lanka’s parliament, becoming the first openly transgender candidate in the country’s history. The election is scheduled for Thursday.

Nimesha is running as a candidate for the Socialist Party of Sri Lanka in the Kegalle district, approximately 50 miles east of Colombo. She is one of roughly 8,000 candidates competing for a position in the 225-seat parliament.

Transgender individuals are estimated to represent around 1% of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people, according to the local civil society group, Equal Ground. Despite their presence, they often encounter societal discrimination and a lack of legal safeguards. Political representation for this community is almost nonexistent.

“I’m not concerned about winning or losing,” Nimesha stated from her apartment. “But it is important for me to be present in this space, to be seen, to inspire others like me. I want to help everyone, not just my community.”

Nimesha's campaign centers around promoting social justice, a message she says has resonated with voters. This election takes place less than two months after Marxist-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake secured victory in September's presidential election.

The 49-year-old candidate supports her activism and campaign through her work as a quantity surveyor.

This election holds significant weight as Sri Lanka attempts to recover from a severe financial crisis experienced in 2022.