Archives

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Fifty nine women candidates have joined hands as an independent group to contest the Colombo Municipality under the Orange symbol at the forthcoming Local Government Election. This would be the first time that a large number of women will be contesting a local government institution as an independent group.

Addressing a news conference Wednesday, Group Leader Attorney at Law Mrs. Nimalka Fernando said the objective of their campaign is to bring women's problems to the political stage and compel the authorities to prepare policies beneficial to women.

She said their candidate list comprises those who have actively engaged in politics and some newcomers. This independent group No.1 represents all segments of women including professionals, women activists, housemaids, unemployed girls and employees in the garment industry sector. Several Tamil candidates are also included in this list.

Mrs. Fernando said: "We have no intention to gain power. This is only a pioneering effort to increase the participation of women in elections. Therefore, this is a symbolic gesture and the political parties will also pay much attention towards this effort. We want to promote this campaign and create a dialogue among society".

She said that the Colombo Municipality is the hub of the country. In this situation, an effective awareness can be made among public to increase women participation in politics by bringing this issue to the national level.

Among the national level suggestions made by this independent group are to provide an opportunity to Sri Lankan women employees in Middle East countries to cast their vote and urge the authorities to appoint a commission to safeguard the rights of the women who presently work as migrant employees in these countries. In addition, they will take measures to prevent the amendment of the existing labour laws and intervene to provide a sufficient salary to the Free Trade Zone employees.

"According to statistics, 51 per cent of the total population are women. But at present Parliament is represented only by 10 women. In 1997, women representation in Municipal Councils was only 3.4 per cent, Urban Councils 2.6 per cent and Pradeshiya Sabhas 1.7 per cent."

Attorney at Law Sharmila Daluwatte said women representation should be increased to bring women's problems to the parliament. At present, women politics in Sri Lanka has been restricted to a traditional political framework. If a relation is not engaged in politics, there is no possibility for a woman to contest an election. 

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager