The Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees.

¶ 02 I will briefly recall a few points. We have decided to review the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, No. 34 of 2005. That Act is now over 20 years old, and circumstances have changed. There are issues in the Act; we are working to identify areas that need amendment and to modernize it. Thereafter, we are taking necessary steps to prepare draft laws to further secure children’s rights.

¶ 03 We also have the National Child Protection Authority Act, No. 50 of 1998, which is now about 30 years old. It too must be updated, because society has changed, technology has advanced, methods of abuse have altered, and the pressures on children are different. We are taking steps to amend and update laws that have not been revised for a long time.

¶ 04 I also wish to refer to the Women’s Commission Act, No. 37 of 2024. Although it has been passed, steps were not taken to establish the Women’s Commission. We intervened to move that forward. This is a new commission, not a reactivation of an old one, so we must provide facilities, premises, staff, and budgetary allocations. That process is underway. The Commission has a significant mandate, including formulating a National Women’s Policy, and we expect it to act on that in the future. As a Ministry, we are carrying out a special responsibility in these respects.

¶ 05 On the occasion of the forthcoming International Women’s Day, I extend good wishes to the many Sri Lankan women who have struggled for their rights throughout history, including the 20 women MPs representing Parliament today—two of them from the Opposition. Our Prime Minister, our Ministers, and our women MPs have worked at the grassroots, intervened significantly, and advanced women’s rights; I wish them strength and courage to continue to protect women’s rights and upliftment. Thank you for the time given; I conclude.