The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, as I was saying: CEDAW stresses gender-disaggregated data and women-sensitive allocations, including within Aswesuma. The Minister should engage with the programme to ensure widows and vulnerable women are adequately covered. A gender-responsive budget was attempted in 2001 under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, but not sustained. We should embed gender-supportive allocations across ministries rather than always depend on UNDP or the World Bank.

¶ 02 In the plantation sector, most workers are women; the daily Rs. 1,700 is inadequate—please raise it urgently. When will Sri Lanka sign up to the ILO “Decent Work” framework? Also, despite the President’s statement about private sector wage increases, no decision has yet materialized. Women in FTZs face minimal wages, harsh living conditions, and various abuses; the Ministry should intervene with support—we in Parliament will back you.

¶ 03 Stickers on buses will not stop sexual harassment. We need proper measures in public transport and perhaps designated harassment-free zones as piloted elsewhere.

¶ 04 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake: If every man loves women as Dayasiri does, good.

¶ 05 Yes—we speak and act out of respect and care. On rape law: cases drag for years; women cannot rebuild lives, marry, or care for children under the weight of ongoing trials. Establish special courts or fast-track procedures for rape to conclude cases swiftly. I know of cases lasting 13–20 years where evidence degraded. Please consult the Justice Minister and act.

¶ 06 We constantly speak of equality for women yet fail to realize it, which is a contempt of our Constitution’s spirit. Now is the time—with many women from the National People’s Power in this House, not merely entering politics after a spouse or parent passed away, but in their own right. Let us advance this process to restore women’s rightful place.

¶ 07 We cannot ignore the unresolved case of Ishara Sewwandi—still missing. Please find her.

¶ 08 Leader of the House, I also ask that the Imams Report and the Alwis Report, as well as the Batalanda Report, be tabled. Al Jazeera questioned our leaders on these; let us place the reports before the House.

¶ 09 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake: Our President Anura was grilled rigorously on TV; elites here are rarely questioned that way.

¶ 10 I did not mean otherwise. Ultimately, I acknowledge former President Ranil Wickremesinghe also rendered service to the country. Wishing Minister Polraj strength to take this process forward, I conclude. Thank you.