The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC

¶ 01 Within that minute, let me recall the Ummagga Jataka. The king wished to test the queen’s wisdom. During the rains, a man steering a boat saw another man in the river holding spices in one hand and food in the other. The man in the river cried out, “Rescue me; I will give you something I like.” The boatman saved him. When ashore, the rescued man offered only the food, not the spices. The boatman objected, and the dispute went to the royal court. The queen asked the rescued man what he had promised. He said, “I said I would give what I like.” The queen then told him to take what he liked and go. As he reached to take the spices, the king asked, “Do you like those?” “Yes,” he said. The queen then ordered that the spices be given to the rescuer, as promised. The lesson: from ancient times, women too exercised sound judgment in decision-making. Therefore, with or without amendment, female Divisional Secretaries must be allowed to vote in these elections.

¶ 02 Thank you.