Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized that no regressive forces should be allowed to reverse the victory achieved by Sri Lankan society with the highest representation of women in the history of Parliament.
Speaking at a press conference conducted by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus in the parliamentary premises in line with International Women’s Day on March 8, the Prime Minister made this statement.
She emphasized though the highest number of female parliamentarians in the Parliament previously was 13, this time it has increased to 22, which is a victory for the entire Sri Lankan society. She further stated that this achievement was not a sudden occurrence but the result of a historical struggle by women in the country. She also pointed out that this confirms the incorrectness of the prevailing notion that women cannot engage in politics and governance.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister highlighted that despite this achievement, there are groups attempting to turn it into a cultural battle by launching attacks based on cultural aspects against women. She stressed that such efforts should not be allowed in any way and that the victory achieved must be safeguarded and further expanded.
She reaffirmed the commitment to systematically eliminating the barriers to women’s representation and leadership across all sectors, creating a society where everyone can live with fairness, equality, and security. The Prime Minister also expressed her appreciation for the significant role played by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus in this regard.
Addressing the press conference, Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated that a Women’s Week has been declared in line with this year’s International Women’s Day, during which a series of programs will be implemented. She also mentioned that this time, a large number of previously unheard voices are being represented in Parliament and that the goal is to utilize this as a driving force for the country’s future development.
She further emphasized that this time, a significant number of women have entered Parliament based on their political and social activism rather than political family backgrounds. She assured that the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus will continue to work towards increasing women’s representation and ensuring women’s safety in the Tenth Parliament.
Moreover, the Hon. Deputy Co-Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Chamindranee Kiriella, expressed her satisfaction as an opposition Member of Parliament that the representation of women in the Tenth Parliament has reached 10%. However, she pointed out that compared to the 25% representation in local government bodies and other countries in the region, this figure is not satisfactory. She highlighted that in Pakistan’s Parliament, female representation is approximately 30%. She further stressed the importance of working collectively, beyond party differences, to address the issues faced by women in the country.
The Secretary of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, stated at the press conference that the Caucus, as a more active body, aims to continue working in the Tenth Parliament to increase women’s participation in politics, protect women’s rights and equality, prevent violence against women, and safeguard the rights of female workers.
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