Category: State and Politics

Necessary yet Insufficient: Women’s quota for wider political representation in Sri Lanka

The women’s quota, introduced in February 2018, has significantly increased women’s representation in local level democracy. It has paved the way for otherwise politically marginalized local level women political actors to enter into local councils. The findings of this study provide compelling insights into the background of the women politicians who contested the February 2018 … Continue reading Necessary yet Insufficient: Women’s quota for wider political representation in Sri Lanka

Profiles of elected women to the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka

1. Pavithra Wanniarachchi Pavithra Wanniarachchi is Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine. She represents the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).  A lawyer by profession, she has been a member of the Parliament from the Ratnapura District since 1994 representing the United Peoples Freedom Alliance and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and was also a … Continue reading Profiles of elected women to the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka

75 women candidates contested from the main political parties for Parliamentary Elections 2020

The Sri Lanka Parliamentary elections 2020 had a total number of 75 women contesting from the six main political parties from the preferential voters list and national list. At present there are 8 women elected through the preferential candidates list. These 8 women elected are Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasingha, Muditha Prishanthi Soysa, … Continue reading 75 women candidates contested from the main political parties for Parliamentary Elections 2020

Messages for the Parliamentary Elections 2020

Safeguard democracy, use your vote and use it wisely  ප‍්‍රජාතන්ත‍්‍රවාදය ආරක්ෂා කරන්න, ඔබේ ඡුන්දය ඥාණාන්විතව භාවිතා කරන්න. ஜனநாயகத்தைப் பாதுகாக்கவும், உங்கள் வாக்குகளைப் பயன்படுத்துவதுடன், அதனைப் புத்திசாலித்தனமாகப் பயன்படுத்தவும்.   

Women’s rights organizations call to postpone parliamentary elections 2020 and to reconvene Parliament

20th April 2020 We are a group of six women’s organisations based in different districts of the country, engaged in work to increase women’s representation in politics for over two decades. We note with grave concern reports and speculation in various media sites that the President is to call Parliamentary elections, possibly for the end … Continue reading Women’s rights organizations call to postpone parliamentary elections 2020 and to reconvene Parliament

Postponement of nominations process and Parliamentary elections – a call to the Elections Commissioner

17 March 2019 The Chairperson and members of the Elections Commission Elections Commission Rajagiriya Dear Chairman Mr. Mahinda Deshapriya Commissioners Prof. Rathnajeevan Hoole and Mr. N. J Abeysekera Postponement of nominations process and Parliamentary elections We are five women’s organisations working at the national as well as the regional level to strengthen women’s representation in … Continue reading Postponement of nominations process and Parliamentary elections – a call to the Elections Commissioner

Postponement of nominations process and Parliamentary elections – a call to the Speaker of Parliament

17 March 2019 Hon. Karu Jayasuriya Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Dear Hon. Speaker Postponement of nominations process and Parliamentary elections We are five women’s organisations working at the national as well as the regional level to strengthen women’s representation in politics and have on many occasions over the past 15 years interacted … Continue reading Postponement of nominations process and Parliamentary elections – a call to the Speaker of Parliament