Rohini accuses Govt. of gender bias over Acting AG appointment 

SJB Matale District MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna 

• SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna says Senior Additional Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena was overlooked for post of Acting AG due to gender bias
• Claims Govt. has disregarded Jinasena’s seniority, experience, and qualifications in favour of appointing a male
• Criticises Govt. for introducing bills to project progressive image while simultaneously reducing opportunities for women
• Demands to know on what basis another candidate was appointed as Acting AG instead of Jinasena 

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Matale District MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna has accused the Government of gender discrimination in the appointment of Senior Additional Solicitor General Parinda Ranasinghe Jr. to the post of Acting Attorney General, overlooking Senior Additional Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, the MP highlighted that the Government disregarded Jinasena’s seniority, experience, and qualifications in favour of appointing a male to the post. 

While Sri Lanka has yet to see a woman in the top post, it was anticipated that Jinasena would be the first female to be appointed to this position.

However, on 28 June, the President appointed Senior Additional Solicitor General Parinda Ranasinghe Jr. as the country’s Acting Attorney General. Ranasinghe is the son of K. A. Parinda Ranasinghe a former Sri Lankan judge, who was also the 38th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Ranasinghe, Jr. is currently tipped to be appointed as the Attorney General. 

She noted that Jinasena was overlooked just two weeks after Parliament passed the Women Empowerment Bill.

Wijerathna criticised the Government for introducing various bills to project a progressive image to the international community while simultaneously reducing efforts to acknowledge and create opportunities for women.

“I need to know on what basis someone else was appointed to that position without considering the female candidate,” she questioned in Parliament.