The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I have a point of order under Standing Order 91(c).

¶ 02 Standing Order 91(c) states:

¶ 03 “No Member shall make imputations of improper motives against another Member or allude to the conduct of another Member in his or her private capacity.”

¶ 04 Hon. Speaker, yesterday Parliament discussed at length violence against women. Our Hon. Prime Minister specifically said that the dignity of women Members must be protected. Our Hon. Minister for Women and Child Affairs said in her speech that among women Members on the Government side, 20 were not here due to their fathers’ or husbands’ patronage; only I and Hon. Rohini Kaviratne are here on the Opposition side. My father represented Parliament for 36 years and was elected by the people. Hon. Rohini Kaviratne also entered Parliament after her father and husband. The Minister knows in the Women’s Caucus we all work together. We too have come here through the people’s vote. She said Government-side women Members are elected by the people. I wish to express my regret over that statement because it insults the voters of Kandy and Matale and disrespects our memberships.

¶ 05 Thank you.