My desire is to assist women and children - Yamuna Ganeshalingam

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

We should work together to ensure the progress of our society, UPFA Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) candidate Yamuna Ganeshalingam said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

Q: Your late husband K. Ganeshalingam, one-time Mayor of Colombo, worked for the betterment of cityfolk and to develop the Colombo city, but you were not engaged in politics then. Now you have come forward to contest the Colombo Municipal Council election on the UPFA ticket. What made you take such a decision?

A: It is true that I was not directly engaged in politics. However, I was always with my husband, the late K. Ganeshalingam with regard to his social and political activities. Our inner circle was aware of this.

I know how he helped resolve political and social issues. He served the people, treating them all as Sri Lankans. His vision was to uplift the living conditions of the people and develop infrastructure facilities in the Colombo city. He was always kind to people who were poverty stricken.

I believe that the CMC is a place where we can implement our welfare projects to benefit the people. CMC means social service. It is time that we work together to improve the city and society. We need the support and cooperation of the Central Government to achieve this, hence my decision to contest on the UPFA ticket.

Q: You are a leading businesswoman in Sri Lanka. You have provided employment to hundreds of youth in your factories. Do you think you can find the time to serve the people with your busy business schedule?

A: Yes, I absolutely can! After the demise of my husband, I planned and scheduled my management work with this in mind. I am carrying on my social work also. This is not a problem for me.

Q: Colombo is a multi-religious, multi-communal and multi-cultural city where all strata of society live together. It is the commercial capital of the country. What are your future plans for city development? Can you mention a few?

A: My desire is to render assistance, particularly to women and children. My program is as follows: Municipality medical clinics will be modernised. Eye and dental clinics will be upgraded.

The mosquito menace will be controlled with proper drainage and stagnant water disposal streamlined.

Cleanliness of restaurants will be ensured. Setting up vocational training centres for women in collaboration with six women's organisations in Colombo, to help them earn a living, is also in the agenda.

Q: Have you contributed financially to any social or charity organisation?

A: I am a strong believer in the saying "what the right hand does, the left hand should not know".

Q: Would you like to explain your family background?

A: My father, the late Dr. Sri Pathmanathan was an old boy of St. Benedict's College, Kotahena. He was an eminent doctor in Puloly in Jaffna. My mother was Sathiya Bhagawathie Sri Pathmanathan. She was involved in social, religious and cultural activities. My mother always believed in the axiom "The hands that serve are more powerful than the lips that pray".

My uncle, the late advocate P. Navaratnarajah QC groomed several legal giants. He was my father's eldest brother and also an old boy of St. Benedict's College, Colombo. I have two children who live abroad. My daughter is a graduate with an MA in Mathematics and Management and my son is a doctor.