Only two female MPs out of 12 invited turn up at International Women’s Day celebrations

Text and pix BY PRIYAN DE SILVA 

Speaking at the International Women’s Day Celebrations, organised by the female councillors of the Matale District Local Government institutions, SJB MP and member of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, Rohini Kavirathne, said that one of her male counterparts in Parliament had called for a boycott of the ceremony held at Pallepola in Matale on Sunday (07). 

Out of 12 members of the Women Parliamentarians Caucus invited to the event only Manjula Dissanayaka MP and Rohini Kavirathne MP attended the event. Sita Arambepola MP and Dr Sudarshani Fernandopulle Chairperson of the Caucus addressed the event via zoom.  

The theme for Sunday’s event was ‘Campaign to eliminate sexual harassment in the world of work ‘and was held in commemoration of national heroine Ehelepola Kumarihamy. It was recalled that throughout the country’s history from the times of Princess Kuveni to Ehelepola Kumarihamy  and even to the present day females had not been treated equally.

 MP Manjula Dissanayaka said that even though 52% of Sri Lanka’s population was women there were only 12 female MPs among the 225 Members of Parliament. She added that proportionately the figure should be at least 112 female MPs and hoped that the number would increase at future elections.

 Chief Incumbent of the Ehelepola Purana Viharaya Ven Palawahthay Sonuththara Thera said that it might have been more beneficial to the country if all 225 members of Parliament had been females.

 Delivering the keynote speech at the event which was slotted before the vote of thanks, National Coordinator of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence Manjula Gajanayaka said that although there were 1,926 female councillors in local government bodies due to the 25% quota granted to females, females were underrepresented in Parliament.

Out of the 2,899 MPs elected between 1947 and 2021, only 133 were females , he said, noting that only a handful of females had been appointed to decision-making positions in Parliament as well as other political institutions. Citing the Election Commission of Sri Lanka as an example, the Election Monitor said that no females had been appointed as members of the Election Commission ever.

Gajanayake pointed out that there were no allegations of corruption levelled against females appointed as MPs and councillors of LG institutions but added that those females had no opportunity to stand against corruption that took place in their institutions.

 Irrespective of the call for a boycott, a considerable number of female representatives of local government bodies in the Matale District together with the Mayor of Dambulla and Chairman of the Pallepola Pradeshiya Sabha attended the event.