The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, two days ago — I recall it was Monday — Hon. Sujeewa Senasinghe made remarks targeting Hon. Hiruni Wijesinghe. I was not in Parliament at that time. This is circulating on social media as an edited video clip. In a discussion with Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, drawing a point of Order, Hon. Hiruni Wijesinghe had said, “Tell the lady MP next to you whether she knows how to take the country forward…”

¶ 02 Hon. Speaker, women come to Parliament to do politics. For long, women’s representation was only around five percent, doubled to around ten percent only last year. Hon. Hiruni Wijesinghe is here to represent her people. To belittle a woman MP in a misogynistic manner is what happened.

¶ 03 First, those remarks should be expunged from the Hansard. Second, Hon. Sujeewa Senasinghe should publicly apologize to Hon. Hiruni Wijesinghe for such statements made in Parliament against a woman Member.

¶ 04 Hon. Speaker, I expect your intervention. Parliament must set an example. Yesterday, social media widely criticized this incident. This is about conduct as an MP and politics. If the Opposition continues to set such examples, women in Sri Lanka will be discouraged from entering politics. There are two women MPs representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya here. I am saddened; I do not know the situation of women in that party, but it is evident from these remarks. I hope the SJB will act more decisively regarding Hon. Sujeewa Senasinghe. Thank you for the time.