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We will give the change that young people yearn for: Ajantha Perera
The only woman candidate at the upcoming Presidential Election, Dr. Ajantha Perera, who is contesting under the Socialist Party of Sri Lanka (SPSL) says the party is aiming at winning the hearts of the youth who are looking for a change.
Dr. Ajantha Perera
She says many young people are disillusioned with the major parties and are looking for alternative parties.“It is not green, blue or purple that they are looking for but concrete work that will uplift the country’s economy. The country is stagnating. Nothing is happening here,” she adds.
Observing that the present political system had created a plethora of floating votes among fresh voters who are looking for a change, she says, “We will be targeting them.”
Dr. Perera, the second female candidate to contest a presidential election in Sri Lanka, the first being Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratnga, says her main aim would be to shrink the gap between the rich and poor.
Having been domiciled abroad for 22 years and with work experience in countries such as England, Geneva and in the Fiji Islands she says her main goal will be to protect the environment especially working towards a clean and plastic-free one.
She says she is aware of the economic plight and working conditions of garbage collectors, labourers and farmers through her work. “Garment factory workers stand for 18 hours for a paltry sum they receive as salary, the garbage workers work under appalling conditions and the farmer is unable to sell his produce for a fair price.”
“We are all responsible and should work for the upliftment of the poor. We need to give them the power to raise their voices,” she says adding that it was about time that level headed citizens came forward to rescue the country from naïve politicians who only bicker over issues but rarely solve them.
Outlining the party’s manifesto she says it aims at poverty alleviation, fair wages and creating a pleasant work environment. Dr. Perera says the party does not believe in privatising the state sector and industries under the Board of Investment (BOI) will be brought under the purview of the government. The BOI has been set up with undue powers and the workers in those industries undergo untold hardship, she says adding that the monetary aspect of the BOI should be taken over by the state.
Pointing out that women are still underdogs in this country she says, “Although they run a home and manage companies they are still looked down upon by men. As a female candidate I want to show that women are capable.” She says she too faced harassment when she publicised her intention of running for the presidential election. Many men had phoned her and asked her whether she is capable of running a country.
Women on the other hand have been outright supportive of her move. “They have come forward to congratulate me and show their solidarity,” she says with much appreciation.
One of her party’s aims would be to give a platform for women to enter politics. ” We will educate them on how to enter politics,” she says
Dr. Perera also asserts that her work in many countries as a scientist, university lecturer and an environmental activist has helped her gain knowledge in establishing diplomatic ties with countries.
Her party’s development goals will reach all parts of the country and they will work towards creating an equal society devoid of religious and ethnic differences.”My first move in this area will be to remove the question on ethnicity and religion in all application forms. We will not treat anybody as second class citizens,” she emphasises.
She says while SPSL will carry out house to house campaigning they will use social media to draw in more young voters.
Dr. Perera completed her higher studies in England and joined the University of Kelaniya as an assistant lecturer in Biochemistry, Physiology and Zoology. She joined the University of Colombo as a senior lecturer in Environmental Studies and later worked for the Ministry of Environment. She has also contributed towards recycling management strategy for solid waste in the country.