Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Wednesday, 12 March 2014 00:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Q: How prepared are you to face the upcoming election?
A: I am very enthusiastic. I am the only female candidate from Matara. I have to face a lot of challenges. But I am ready. For the last 10 years there hasn’t been any female representation from Matara District. I was fortunate enough to be elected as the sole female candidate from the Southern Province. I am also the youngest female provincial councillor in history. I look forward to bring female representation and female leadership from Matara District.
Q: You said you are the youngest female provincial councillor in history. What obstacles have you had to face?
A: Not only the youngest, I was also the only female representative from the Southern Province, but I came through. Initially there wasn’t a lot of faith given my age. That was the biggest obstacle I had to face. There were doubts whether I would be able to deliver; whether I would be accepted among the most senior members in the council. Fortunately everyone got to know about my capabilities. They got to know who I am. This also helped me to realise my abilities and potentials.
Q: What do you think about your accomplishments?
A: My experience has brought me a long way in life. There were a lot of things which were unclear in the beginning. But my experience shaped me up to what I am today. Today I am aware of the problems faced by the people in rural areas, problems faced by women in their day-to-day life.
My experiences as a politician have made me realise that what is important is not giving a lot of fake promises but finding a stepping stone towards the issues faced by the people. People point their finger at celebrities and always criticise them. But if you go to the provincial council, you would realise that there are members who have not gone to the council for the last six months. There are members who have not spoken for the last so many months. People don’t talk about these things because people don’t know about them. There are no false rumours about them either. They only attack the celebrities.
However, it is all about moving forward as a woman and facing the challenges. My accomplishments as a politician are a huge triumph for me. It has been a tough journey. Yes I had backing from everyone, but actually speaking all that I have accomplished has been on my own.
Q: Your campaign is based on securing women’s rights and empowering women. During your tenure as a provincial councillor what have you done for the betterment of women?
A: During my tenure as a provincial councillor what I have realised is that women hesitate to discuss their issues. Whether it is financial or domestic issues, they rarely speak out about the problems they face. However, realising the actual issues of women has changed me as an individual as well. If they speak, they only talk about their families and needs of children. This could be due to social stigma. We have to educate them that it is important for women to be happy in order to have a happy family.
During my period in the council I brought up seven cases of rape and sexual harassment. In Matara, domestic violence is a huge issue. In many cases people don’t go to the police station to complain. They don’t go to the hospital for treatment. Women can’t go to a male councillor or a Parliamentarian and talk about these issues. Therefore, it is important that there is female representation at provincial council level. I want the women to come up to me and share their grievances. I want to be there for them. I want to help them solve their problems and when they need assistance, direct them to the correct places. I also want to strengthen women financially.
A lot of sexual harassment and theft takes place in public transportation. I have pointed out the importance of having CCTV cameras in public transport. I am also hoping to commence three mass-scale spoken English classes and this is not from provincial council funds; I will be using my personal funding for this project.
Q: What you mentioned is still in discussion stage. What are programs you have already implemented?
A: Having CCTV cameras in public transport is in the process of being implemented. When the British tourist was killed in Tangalle, I brought it up in the council. I pointed out the importance of training at least two police officers from each station to communicate in languages such as German, French and Russian. I think the Tangalle Police Station has already deployed two officers for this purpose. This measure would ensure that tourists could communicate effectively with our local authorities.
But I agree that there is more to be done. There are politicians who donate Rs. 2,000 and get the maximum publicity for that. I don’t do that. I would not donate cash through someone else’s funds or distribute carom boards and get my picture published in the papers. That is not the politics I am in. That is petty politics. I never wanted to fall in that category and I never will.
Q: There is a common complaint that celebrities like you rarely visit the electorate after elections. Is it true?
A: There is no truth in that. When I was in Galle I was very frequent in terms of attendance. I attended whether it was council sessions or events taking place in the district. It was not easy for me to move from Galle to Matara. I have left so much of work. I made this move because I want to give a win for women.
People can say many things, but I do not care. Even today when I go to Galle I am welcomed. I am very much missed by those people. I seriously think politicians should use their time to work for people rather than tarnishing other people’s image.
Q: Are you denying allegations that you rarely visit your electorate or attend council sessions?
A: Of course I have attended council sessions regularly. I’ve been to the council so many times and my attendance is very good. Anyone can check. But make sure that you not only check mine but also check everyone else’s attendance. Then they can judge for themselves.
Q: What is your opinion on celebrities entering politics?
A: Multitasking is the name of the game. If you are not multitasking, you are not a winner in life. You have to spread your wings. I am not only proud as an actress and a TV personality, I am also happy about my achievements as a politician. I am happy that I am doing all this. I encourage everyone else to do the same.
I feel that all the rumours that go around about politicians are created because today the whole role of being a politician is unpopular. A lot of people have made it unpopular and made it a joke because politicians have not served people properly. This has to be rectified. But I don’t believe that celebrities should be blamed for that. There have been so many cases where celebrities have become more popular than politicians. I feel celebrities deal with people in more humane manner.
Q: What was your response when your fellow celebrities were not given nominations by the SLFP?
A: The fact that they were not given nominations was not because they were actresses. It was a completely different issue. On the other hand, at a crucial time like this, the party has to make sure the best team is put to fight. The party was only thinking about who would be able to win the elections and who would be able to put up a fight. It is not easy for a woman to be in politics. Whether you are an actress, beautician or a housewife, when you get into politics, everyone will give you a hard time. If you breakdown during the campaign, the party is going to suffer. The party will not be there to console or cheer you on. Once you get your nomination, you have to fight the battle alone. I am on my own. The party will come and congratulate if you win, but otherwise you are on your own.
Q: People feel that Colombo-based celebrities like you do not realise or identify with the grievances and suffering of people in the villages. Do you agree?
A: It is the first time I am hearing something like this. There is nothing like that at all. I am from Matara. My father and my grandparents are from Matara. I am very aware about what I am doing. I know the real issues of people.
Q: As a politician, what is your goal?
A: I want to go to Parliament. That is my main aim. I don’t know why; maybe to speak up about the weak laws and bring up issues about domestic violence and child abuse.
Q: Who challenges you the most?
A: No one. It’s just myself. I just keep challenging myself. I am my biggest challenge. I say this because every single day in my campaign is a victory for me. It is not whether I win on the 29th or not. There is a lot of mudslinging. It is not easy. I feel this was the main reason why there was no female representation for the last 10 years. But I am a pretty good fighter. So far I have come out alright. When I entered active politics, I set a trend. So many other actresses wanted to get into politics. There are so many young women who want to come into politics. I am not jealous of other women. I encourage everyone to follow in my footsteps.
Q: Who should be the Southern Province chief minister?
A: Being the chief minister is not an easy game at all. It is the hardest job imaginable. Everyone going on about wanting to become the chief minister, especially the novices, are really ridiculous. It is saddening to see the greed certain people have for certain positions.
Q: Do you want to be the Chief Minister?
A: No. If I was elected as the chief minister, I don’t think I would be able to handle such a position. I would be a fool to think I can. There is so much more I have to learn as a politician.
Q: A local newspaper reported that you distributed sweets among some elderly people who participated at your pocket meetings. Is it true?
A: A completely and utterly false accusation. This never happened at all. Once you become popular, when people start liking you, when you jump all the hurdles put before you, they just bring up crazy things like this. I don’t have time to address every single accusation, every single rumour. If I did, I will not have time to carry out my campaign.
Q: Everyday a large number of FB memes, emails and tweets about you circulate. How do you react to these rumours/accusations?
A: When I was 15 years old, an English daily carried a front page story saying that I was sexually abused by Ranjan Ramanayake. I never made a complaint. I was only 15 years old; nobody spoke on my behalf. The next day the paper carried an apology but the damage was done.
People say crazy things about me; they make pictures of me. But I am unstoppable. Why I say I am a good candidate for women is because I can handle mudslinging and I can face rumours. If I think about my image and fight against these accusations, I will not have time carry out my work. These things don’t hit me or hurt me anymore. I see all of this as just another joke.
There are many incidents where politicians come to me and say bad things. I know that parliamentarian or the provincial councillor is somebody’s father or somebody’s son. So I respect that and therefore don’t attack them. Why can’t they consider other people’s feelings? People are so greedy that they enjoy attacking someone who will not attack them back.
What they share through social networking in Sri Lanka is negative and destructive. This is against Buddhism. This is really sad. Why would the youth use technology to tarnish someone’s image when they can use it to uplift themselves?
Q: A tweet about you by the President’s son Namal Rajapaksa went viral recently. Did you ask him why he did such thing that could have also had a negative impact on your ongoing election campaign?
A: I haven’t been on social networking for a long time. My first reaction was ‘wow’. Then I thought ‘why did it have to happen to me?’ Obviously I was shocked. I am not active on Twitter. I never thought that one tweet would have got so many responses. All three of us in that picture are good friends. I don’t think two of them would say something like that to me. Maybe who ever made that meme was jealous of our friendship. I have known Namal Rajapaksa since I was a kid. We have never had that sort of topic discussed, ever. I think people were jealous of the fact that the relationship that I have with Namal is not because of politics.
I think Namal also didn’t realise that people would react the way that they did. He could have deleted it then and there, but he was brave enough to face all the criticism he did face. He could have said that he did not do it, but he admitted that he did tweet it. It shows that he is sorry and willing to receive the feedback he is receiving now. But I do know that he did not put it up to attack me.
