The Hon. (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 [4.46 p.m.]

¶ 02 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. Under this Head, I wish to focus on women and children. An Opposition MP claimed women in the armed forces must now serve 22 years like men, implying this was a punishment. That is incorrect. Equalizing women’s service to 22 years is the result of their long struggle for parity, not a penalty.

¶ 03 On women and child protection: the President noted that children accused of offences are transported together with adult prisoners; we are seeking solutions. Under this allocation, we will implement early identification of at‑risk children through Police stations working with Child Protection and Probation Officers and Divisional Secretariats, arranging suitable guardianship or appropriate State placement where necessary.

¶ 04 We will ensure women officers are present in all Police stations. The Children and Women Bureau’s hotline 109 is active for complaints. Many stations lack sufficient women officers; women find it difficult to report sensitive issues to male officers, and misconduct risks arise. Therefore, we will recruit more women and strengthen Hotline 109.

¶ 05 We have seen stations with only one woman officer; when she must accompany a Magistrate to a scene—for example, in sudden deaths—no woman remains at the station to take urgent complaints such as domestic violence. Hence, we plan to recruit 2,600 women officers this year, aiming for at least three per station.

¶ 06 Further, to prevent re-victimization, we are establishing dedicated Children and Women Units with separate entrances in all 604 Police stations, reorganizing all Children and Women Desks accordingly.

¶ 07 The key is not only punishing crime but preventing it. We have the will to prevent crime; we are not beholden to any underworld or vested business interests. Recall the Tangalle tourist murder of Khuram Shaikh and assault on his partner—there were times political protection emboldened suspects. That era is over. We will act professionally and competently. Thank you.