With vast experience as compassionate employer:

Geetha pledges rightful place for women

President, a charismatic leader:

by a political correspondent

Geetha Kumarasinghe needs no introduction as she has been an award-winning actress for over 35 years. She is now gearing to play a different role, this time in the political arena. A veteran actress who was twice voted as the Most Popular Actress and was adjudged seven times as the Best Actress. Geetha will be contesting the forthcoming general elections under the UPFA banner from Galle District.

Despite her busy schedule as a career woman, actress and a UPFA candidate for the Parliamentary elections, the Sunday Observer managed an exclusive interview with the actress-turned-politician.

Q: What made you enter the political arena after a distinguished career as one of the most popular actresses for over three decades?

A: Since my childhood, I enjoy helping people. I have helped several women by giving them employment in my garment factories. I am from the South and had my education at Sangamitta College, Galle and at Ananda Central College, Elpitiya. From the era of Rukmani Devi to Anarkali, I am the only popular actress from the South.

Our electorate Bentara-Elpitiya was not represented by an MP for the past ten years.

People of the area became a neglected lot since none of the Galle District MPs were from our region. You could well imagine their plight. The Government was helpless because there was no one to speak on their behalf.

Therefore, I decided that I should do something for my people of Bentara-Elpitiya and also for the entire district.

Q: What are your views of women in politics?

A: Before coming to that, I must confess that most women in our society had to undergo untold hardships due to untold reasons. In some cases, fathers and mothers with grown up children play the role of a servant. True, they live with their married children. But they are compelled to do domestic work like a servant.

Women engaged in garment, rubber, cinnamon other sectors make a huge contribution to the national economy, but in that process suffer a lot. We should lay out a plan to protect them without waiting for the Government to do each and everything.

Talking about women in politics, still there is a negligible percentage of women in politics. At the forthcoming general elections, I am the only woman in the UPFA list of candidates in the Galle District.

It has become very difficult for a woman to be a politician. Mud- slinging and character assassinations have become the latest trend. But we have to expect them in politics.

Out of the two billion population, 52% are women and out of that, well over 56% have voting rights. They are the people who will decide on the future legislators.

Q: What are your plans for the Galle District?

A: I believe that each and every youth must have a job. We must ensure their future with employment opportunities. We need the youth in the country to make an active contribution to develop this country and the youth from the South, I am very certain, are capable of taking the initiative.

We must encourage fine qualities in our homes because charity begins at home.

Then we could develop our villages together and finally aim at developing our country as a strong nation.

After I become a parliamentarian I hope to start a scholarship scheme to which I will contribute my monthly salary. I will also ensure the support of the business community.

Q: Why did you choose UPFA politics?

A: Mainly because of the President. It was he who saved this country from the jaws of LTTE terror. No other leader for well over 30 years could do that, but President Mahinda Rajapaksa did it by giving the leadership. I knew him while he was the Minister of Labour, when I had a minor problem in one of my garment factories. Both of as always spoke for the working class. Although I was the employer, I eventually took the side of the employees_the working class. So far, I have provided employment to over 16,000 people in my garment factory network.

Q: Are you happy with the response you have received from people in the South?

A: Definitely, yes! As an actress, I have been very close to the people. People in our trade are sensitive to the wishes of the people. We feel the pulse of the masses.

Wherever I go in the Galle district, there is an overwhelming support from people from all walks of life. They know that I am one of them, straight from Bentara-Elpitiya. They know that I have come to obtain not only their votes but also ready to live with them.

Once I get the mandate from my people to represent them in Parliament, I will spend more time with them. At least, I will make it a point to spend all the weekends in Galle, looking into the needs of my people. They have now become very close to my life.

Q: What is your message to the people in the South, particularly to voters in the Galle district?

A: A majority of 1.8 million people gave a clear mandate to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election. But to take that Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dakma forward in a more meaningful and stronger manner, he needs a strong Parliament.

All those who voted for the President and also those who did not, must show the world that the people in Sri Lanka are united and are ready to back the saviour who saved the nation from the brink of disaster and gave an able leadership to eliminate terrorism. If his landslide victory is capped with a two thirds majority in Parliament, the President could easily take his vision forward and make our country the ‘Wonder of Asia’.

So, I want to be a part of it.

I have been close to the people as an actress. I want to serve you to the best of my ability. Give me an opportunity to serve you, the people in Galle. I know I have the will and ability to serve you better.