The Hon. (Mrs.) Hemali Weerasekara - Deputy Chairperson of Committees

¶ 01 [12.01 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am happy to join this Adjournment Debate at the request of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus for International Women’s Day, to voice for the 52% of our population and to demonstrate to society and to women their strength and capabilities.

¶ 03 Under our Government’s “A Prosperous Country — A Beautiful Life” policy, women are not mere recipients of welfare; they are key stakeholders in production and services. I wish to highlight the growing representation of Sri Lankan women who perform their duties with dedication in many fields.

¶ 04 Although women received the franchise over 90 years ago, representation in Parliament did not exceed 6% until recently. The 2024 General Election raised it to 9.8%, a true transformation. To build a prosperous country, women must be central in all decision-making bodies. In this Tenth Parliament, that change is visible.

¶ 05 Our Hon. Prime Minister, Harini Amarasuriya, fulfills the responsibilities of the premiership while also serving as Cabinet Minister for Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, discharging her duties commendably. Hon. Saroja Sachithra Polraj serves as Minister of Women and Child Affairs, and Hon. Kaushalya Ariyarathna as Minister of Mass Media — both providing fearless leadership. Many women MPs, across government and opposition, chair committees and oversight bodies. For the first time, a woman MP serves as Deputy Chairperson of Committees. Over 2,300 women serve in local authorities, including as mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons, and vice-chairpersons.

¶ 06 In the judiciary, the 48th Chief Justice, Hon. Murdhu Nirupa Fernando, was our second woman Chief Justice, retiring in June 2025. Currently, there are several women Justices in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal; women constitute 31.3% of judges and about 70.8% of attorneys-at-law. Five women serve as Ministry Secretaries and five as Ambassadors; two as Provincial Secretaries; and 22 women serve as Directors-General and Commissioners-General across administration, finance, revenue, and technical fields. Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera is the current Secretary-General of Parliament, the second woman to hold that office, leading the Secretary-General’s Department strongly.

¶ 07 I also highlight our first four women Deputy Inspectors General of Police: Darshika Kumari (Women’s Bureau), Padmini Weerasooriya (Kalutara Range), Renuka Jayasundara (Ratnapura Range), and Nishani Seneviratne (Research and Information). There are also four women Senior Superintendents of Police.

¶ 08 We must not forget the incumbent Auditor-General, Ms. Samudrika Jayaratne — the first woman to hold that post. She and I are both alumnae of Colombo Yasodara Balika Vidyalaya.

¶ 09 While women’s representation in defense remains low, in other sectors — medicine, teaching, principals, administration, accountancy, planning, and the university system — it exceeds 50%, and female undergraduates in state universities consistently exceed 63%. In business, many women have excelled in both large enterprises and SMEs.

¶ 10 Still, overall, only about 30% of women are represented in these spheres, while 70% of those in the care economy are women. A National Care Policy to integrate that labour into the national economy is beyond dispute.

¶ 11 Women are not weak or fragile. None of the women I cited was handed positions; they won them through strength, resilience, and determination, often against ridicule. My dear sisters of Sri Lanka, like the women who have won, you too are strong. With dedication and perseverance, rising again after setbacks, you can conquer all.

¶ 12 Women do not need pity; they need opportunity. They must have a respected place both at home and in the national economy, freedom to express their views anywhere, and be protected from gender-based insults. Their right to live without fear — at home, on the streets, and at work — must be safeguarded. Building a society that does not obstruct their journey is a responsibility of all.

¶ 13 As Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first woman President, said: “When a woman enters politics, she changes. But when many women enter politics, politics changes.”

¶ 14 Under “A Prosperous Country — A Beautiful Life,” as a party and a Government, we are advancing that change.