Govt. to hike women representation at upcoming local polls

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Delivering one more promise in the United National Front political manifesto, the Government has increased the women’s political representation to 25% in the fourth coming Local Government elections.

According to a Cabinet Paper that was passed recently, a separate list of female representation will be allowed. Based on the number of votes and seats each political party obtains in the elections, following the principle of the national list, the female nominations will be considered, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament yesterday.

Seeking parliamentary approval, Wickeremesinghe said, “The bill will be tabled in January 2016. This was discussed with Party Leaders. The Gazatte will be published today and copies will be made available to Members soon. The first reading should take off before 19 December.”

Criticising the male dominated society for not making room for women to come up in politics, the Prime Minister said, “We had the first female Prime Minister as well as President. But females have fewer chances in politics. They have joined politics based on their families’ involvement in politics. As a part of the promises we made during the General Election, action is taken to improve the female representation in politics.”

“Former Parliamentarian Mrs. Rosy Seananayake and UPFA MP Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle supported this effort. Mrs. Senananayake was able to bring it to Parliament as a Private Member Bill on 7 August 2013, but the then Government was not willing to execute it,” he said.

However, noted the Premier, “Don’t think by increasing the number of women in politics, it will reduce the chances available to the men.”