The Hon. Padmasiri Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak during today’s Adjournment Debate marking International Women’s Day, and I thank all Members of the Women MPs’ Caucus for bringing this Motion.

¶ 02 We know the prevailing condition of women in Sri Lankan society: they have faced cultural pressure, insults and violence. Historically, our society was built within a patriarchal system in which women were subordinated—made dependent, denied the chance to raise their heads, and oppressed under cultural constraints. However, with societal and human development, through struggles waged by women, they have won many entitlements.

¶ 03 There are 22 women Members in the current Parliament, and as men we are happy they have this opportunity. In our society, women’s labour and sexuality were exploited, and their creativity and abilities were suppressed by cultural pressures.

¶ 04 We have struggled for gender equality, economic justice, state policies that value unpaid labour’s contribution to the economy, fair treatment for marginalized groups, expansion of women’s political representation and roles, combating all forms of institutional and other violence, giving priority to universal public services in policy formulation to reduce women’s burden, ensuring women’s participation in sustainable environmental policy, building a society free of regressive stereotypes produced by institutions and processes, and ensuring equal access to state services, rights and justice, including preventing all forms of violence against women. Based on such principles we commenced our struggle to obtain state power.

¶ 05 At that time, we launched the “Women, We Stand as One” movement, bringing women together nationwide. I recall our Prime Minister, our Minister of Women and Child Affairs, and many activists here and outside, building a powerful movement to uplift women and resist injustice. On that foundation, we brought 20 women into Parliament with popular mandate.

¶ 06 In line with those principles, as a Government and a political movement, we are taking steps to identify and eliminate gender-based income disparities; remove legal and practical barriers to women’s land rights; amend labour laws and policies and introduce new ones to ensure job security for working women; free women from predatory, high-interest micro-debt; and provide banking and capital facilities to enhance women’s entrepreneurship. On this Women’s Day, we raise our voice having undertaken such measures.

¶ 07 Our expectation—echoing the Opposition—is to bring a fair number of women into this Parliament proportional to the 52 percent of women in the population, to struggle within and outside for women’s rights, organize movements, and build strong women’s organizations.

¶ 08 Women in our country are often vulnerable and suffering. We struggle to free them. As men, historically and today and into the future, we will stand for their justice and fairness—as individuals and as a political movement. With that message to society, I conclude.

¶ 09 Thank you.