The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to speak on this Adjournment Motion relating to women, brought in conjunction with International Women’s Day. We revere women: the one who bore us is a mother; we call our country the motherland. Our religions too state that “Paradise lies at the feet of the mother.” In schools, we learned “Mother, Father, Teacher, God,” giving priority to the mother. There is no opposition to respecting our mothers, women, sisters and daughters.

¶ 02 In such a context, today the Middle East has become a war zone, and in Iran a girls’ school was targeted. Previously, in Israel’s war on Palestine, children were centrally targeted. Afterwards, they claim it was accidental, but we see global powers now conduct pinpoint assassinations, demonstrating accuracy. They cannot claim ignorance of a place where children learn. Those on the Government side, particularly women, should take note. The most affected in this war are women. Girl children are being killed; their parents weep. Therefore, you should record a condemnation in this House against these acts.

¶ 03 Iran has had a close relationship with our previous governments and has helped Sri Lanka in many ways—recently, via the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project providing irrigation and electricity funding. Such assistance cannot be denied. Yet today, due to the tightening international grip, you are unable even to offer words of solace to that country’s people.

¶ 04 You promised equality and socialism, with no ethnic discrimination. Just as Iranians revere their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, many Muslims here see the Hon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake similarly. They voted believing he would treat all equally. What will you tell the hundreds of thousands who voted with that hope, when injustices at sea and elsewhere occur and you fail to speak up?

¶ 05 Most people, not only in the East but across the country, voted for this NPP Government trusting your pledges. But your conduct during this week’s war and today’s debate on women shows otherwise: no one on the Government side voiced a condemnation. You appear fearful of other international powers, while offering condolences to attacks on the United Arab Emirates and the like—we thank you for that, but more is expected.

¶ 06 You have appointed women as Prime Minister and Minister of Women and Child Affairs; created many mechanisms for women—we accept and welcome that. Women have come through local authorities and provincial structures; some via ward seats, some via lists. In Muslim-majority areas, bringing Muslim women into politics is especially difficult. Even so, funding and other arrangements were historically made via Provincial Councils to address issues like sexual and other violence against women and school-related problems. Today, the Government says it will go to families to resolve women’s issues, but in the recent Prajashakthi project in our area, none of the selected were women; all were men. Why no focus on this? Please ensure, going forward, that household-centred solutions include opportunities for women.

¶ 07 The Middle East conflict concerns this country as well. We must act fairly and calmly, beyond ethnic and religious divides, mindful of past assistance from nations, and conduct ourselves accordingly. Thank you.