The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I thank Hon. Shritharan for this timely motion, particularly as we head to the next UNHRC session. As a nation—government and opposition—we must collectively deliberate on the challenges we face and the decisions needed.

¶ 02 Sustainable peace requires equal opportunity, justice, equality, and accountability for all. Only by facing these challenges can we build a true democracy—this is our party’s conviction. We must both speak of and act to protect fundamental rights.

¶ 03 On economic development: equality requires that the economy provide sufficient means for the daily needs of all, fairly. Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities must together build the economy, and benefits must flow equitably to regions. Hence, in the Northern Province we have prioritized road development, agriculture, and improving women’s quality of life within our Budget, and we must ensure women’s inclusion so benefits reach households.

¶ 04 Education, health, and transport are societal rights, not individual luxuries. Government must provide them universally. Hence our focus on two priorities in Malaiyaha development: education and transport. Improving rural transport is crucial to connect produce to markets. In this Budget, we have allocated LKR 5,000 million to upgrade rural roads and bridges in the North, and LKR 1,000 million for the Vattuvagal bridge to bring produce to Colombo, along with other programmes for backward villages.

¶ 05 On Malaiyaha people: for decades they were sidelined from development as “Indian-origin” people. Our NPP Government is the first to integrate them fully as Sri Lankan citizens into the national mainstream. Previously, birth certificates stated “Indian origin” or “Indian Tamils.” Today they are recognized as “Malaiyaha Sri Lankans” or “Sri Lanka Malaiyaha People.” This is the first time they are so recognized. Significant funds and programmes are underway to grant lands, housing, and sanitation in the estates.

¶ 06 On child labour and protection: we have moved to end child domestic labour and begging. Since 1 July, using children for begging or domestic work is prohibited. No one under 18 may be employed in domestic work or hazardous labour; universal education up to that age is affirmed. Legal instruments have been brought accordingly.

¶ 07 We emphasize women’s inclusion in politics. This Government has increased women’s representation. Our 20 MPs include many without political family backgrounds; our social-service experience is what brought us here. Through local authorities we have inducted significant numbers of women and will do so in Provincial Councils as well.

¶ 08 We have formed women’s action societies in about 13,000 of 14,000 GN divisions, mobilizing roughly 300,000 women to develop a cottage industry base in each GN, empowering them into entrepreneurship and strengthening their household economies. The 2026 Budget will further support rural women with targeted allocations. We affirm equal pay for equal work.

¶ 09 We believe guaranteeing human rights requires a just economy, a fair society under the rule of law, and protection of fundamental rights. We aim to eliminate all forms of division and establish equality so human rights flourish. Media freedom and freedom of expression are upheld; people can move freely nationwide. Human rights are not about living apart, but—as Hon. Shritharan said—living together and advancing democracy hand in hand. Our Government guarantees the necessary support to live freely.

¶ 10 Thank you.