From a young migrant to a national legislator, Farah Rumy’s remarkable journey marks a historic first for Sri Lankan women abroad and highlights the growing impact of diaspora voices in European politics.
Farah Rumy has made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan woman elected to a Swiss Cantonal Parliament, securing a seat in the Solothurn Parliament following last Sunday’s election. Born in Sri Lanka and educated at Bishop’s College, Colombo, her election represents a milestone achievement for both the Sri Lankan and immigrant communities in Switzerland.
Farah migrated to Switzerland with her parents in 1998, when she was just six years old. Growing up in a new country, she pursued a path rooted in public service and healthcare. After completing her internship as a nurse, she worked her way through higher education at the University of Bern, earning a Master’s degree in Health Science. She currently serves as a Healthcare Specialist in the Cardiology Unit of the cantonal hospital in Solothurn.
Her professional life has been complemented by strong community engagement. With a deep interest in intergenerational dialogue, Farah has consistently worked on initiatives that connect younger and older generations. One of her most impactful efforts was the campaign titled “I gift a letter,” which encouraged young people to send letters, drawings, poems, and personal messages to elderly residents in retirement and nursing homes to ease loneliness and bring comfort.
Farah also serves as the President of the non profit organization “Restessbar” Grenchen, a charitable initiative aimed at reducing food waste. The project collects good quality surplus food from supermarkets and places them in public refrigerators across Grenchen, allowing underprivileged families to access food free of charge.
Her political breakthrough came on 7 March 2021, when she was elected to the Solothurn Parliament. Out of 538 candidates competing for 100 parliamentary seats, Farah ranked among the top five candidates of the Social Democratic Party, winning her seat with 3,522 votes.
Her victory is widely seen as more than symbolic, representing progress in diversity, inclusion, and political representation for Sri Lankans living in Switzerland.
