Sri Lanka ’s first openly transgender parliamentary candidate aims to foster a more inclusive political culture. Chanu Nimesha, 49, a member of the Socialist Party of Sri Lanka, is contesting from the Kegalle constituency and is focusing her campaign on social justice issues.

Chanu Nimesha, the member of the LGBTQ+ community, is a candidate among 8,000 hoping for a seat in parliament.

Chanu Nimesha is contesting Sri Lanka's parliamentary election on Thursday as the first openly transgender candidate, hoping to forge a more inclusive and tolerant political culture on the South Asian island.

Chanu Nimesha is Sri Lanka’s first openly transgender candidate who is vying for a seat in the 225-seat parliament. The 49-year-old Socialist Party candidate was one of the thousands who marched in Colombo in 2022 to occupy then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office and residence,