President announces plans to pass women-empowering bills in Parliament by June

• At the launch of Good Gestures for Empowerment of Women and Girls Movement by DP Education Founder MP Dhammika Perera, President lists key upcoming legislations and new initiatives
• National Policy on Gender Equality, Women Empowerment; National Commission on Women; Mechanism to Protect Women’s Rights; and Prosecution for Violations of Women’s Rights
• Says laws should be amendment to ensure high percentage of women in politiebureau of political parties
• President commends Dhammika Perera for creating a new paradigm in education via DP Education 
• Says launch of hand gestures serves as practical tool to combat harassment of women and girls

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday emphasised his recognition of the challenges women face in safeguarding their families amidst the economic crisis. He highlighted the Government’s swift action by presenting two bills to the Parliament aimed at empowering women during this initial phase of economic recovery.

The President indicated that these bills are anticipated to be ratified by the Parliament in June, thereby enforcing a national policy on gender equality and women’s empowerment. This includes the establishment of a National Commission on Women and mechanisms to protect women’s rights and prevent violations thereof, including legal recourse.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks during his keynote address at the unveiling of three “Global Gestures” for empowerment of women and girls in public spaces, by DP Education at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre.

During his address, President Wickremesinghe also said the following: 

Dhammika Perera has initiated a transformative movement. His initiative against violence towards women deserves recognition. Enterprises such as DP Education should play a pivotal role in shaping future education.

Historically, education was conducted outdoors under trees, using stone slabs as tools. Over time, buildings and books became integral to the educational process. However, the advent of mobile phones has introduced new dynamics. Education has evolved from traditional temple-based learning to modern classroom settings. Today, technology such as smart classrooms is revolutionising education.

Dhammika Perera’s introduction of DP Education represents a new paradigm in education. This foundation has provided resources to 600 schools, reshaping tuition classes as well.

With the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), education stands poised for further revolution. It is imperative that children benefit from these advancements and efforts should be made to ensure universal access to quality education. While addressing violence against women, today’s event introduced techniques for prevention. Legislation against such violence is being introduced in Parliament.

These hand gestures serve as practical tools to combat violence against women, signalling our commitment to safeguarding women’s rights. Action must accompany words and through these gestures society can become more vigilant against violence towards women, fostering a culture of resistance. I anticipate significant publicity for this initiative, given the presence of both capitalists and philanthropists in our nation.

Philanthropists, individuals who amass wealth and engage in social endeavours, exemplify this spirit. Dhammika Perera stands as a prime example through his altruistic actions. This endeavour holds promise in empowering women against the scourge of violence they face, particularly exacerbated by economic crises.

Upon assuming office, I witnessed first-hand the dire plight of women, many heading households amidst scarcity. Hence, our dedication to bolstering their empowerment. 

Presented before Parliament are the Women’s Empowerment Bill and the Gender Equality Bill, pivotal instruments for enacting a national policy on gender parity and women’s empowerment. These bills advocate for the establishment of a National Commission on Women, equipped to safeguard women’s rights and pursue justice for any violations thereof. Furthermore, a specialised commission will address instances of violence against women, providing prompt remedies as needed.

Remarkably, women are increasingly excelling in education, yet impediments persist. It falls upon us to dismantle these barriers. The Women’s caucus in the Parliament has been established, underscoring their pivotal role in this endeavour. We are committed to fostering social justice by redressing the challenges confronting women and girls. Both bills are slated for passage in June. I have initiated discussions with the Prime Minister to augment female representation in local government elections following the presidential and general elections. It is our aspiration to ensure at least a 25% representation of women in parliamentary seats and to bolster their presence in provincial councils.

Additionally, efforts are underway to acknowledge women’s political rights. By 2030, amendments to the law should establish minimum representation of women in politiebureau of a party. Our focus remains on affirming women’s rights in Sri Lanka and ensuring their rightful representation.

In his remarks DP Education Founder and Chairman MP Dhammika Perera said:

Dhammika and Priscilla Perera Foundation was founded in 2016 with the vision of cultivating a nation abundant in educational opportunities. Today, we have successfully equipped schoolchildren with essential education material online from Grade 1 to 12, benefiting around 1.5 million students which is one third of the student population in the country. Additionally, our foundation has initiated a dedicated program tailored for pre-school children, emphasising early education and development via DP Kids.

As advised by child psychiatrists, we endeavoured to design a program tailored to the rich traditional heritage of Sri Lanka. Through our efforts, we have established 1,000 preschools aimed at nurturing the complete childhood development of children.

Recognising the unique cultural richness of South Asia and the high quality of Sri Lanka’s education system, our foundation is dedicated to shaping a youth steeped in both tradition and technology. We achieve this by imparting knowledge in information technology and language skills. We have set up over 130 DP IT Campuses so far.

Research has revealed that women have three main concerns. One is food for the family, second is education for kids and third is sexual harassment. The Good Gestures for Empowerment of women and girls addresses the third challenge. Today there are only eight signs which are universally used and Sri Lanka via the GG Empowerment movement will add three more.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative for Sri Lanka and Country Director for The Maldives Kunle Adeniyi commended DP Education for launching Global Gestures as a means to end harassment of women and girls which is a growing concern.

Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, State Ministers Anupa Pasqual, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Aravind Kumar, Parliamentarians Wajira Abeywardena, Sanjeewa Edirimanna, A.H.M. Fowzie, Angajan Ramanathan, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, Senior Advisor to the President on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardena, former Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Diplomatic Representatives, university lecturers, teachers and students were also present on the occasion.