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by Neetha S. Ratnapala

The only woman representative in the Cabinet headed by Premier Mrs. Bandaranaike was herself, which led to the saying "only man in the Cabinet" when issues were taken up and she faced problems with her coalition partners. The year 1975 saw the collapse of the coalition when LSSP was dropped from her Cabinet and she formed a government coalescing with the CP. In the 1976 on the death of Minister of Health, George Rajapakse, Siva Obesekera was appointed as Minister of Health which unintentionally brought about some representation to women.

Women P Ms

The entry of Bandaranaike into politics was more accidental as the widow of the assassinated leader than groomed, when one compares with women Prime Ministers of India or Britain, namely Indira Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher. But she set a record as the first woman Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition 1960-65. She herself confessed on her entry into politics that she personally preferred 'to keep away from politics but considered it her duty to accept the position as a gesture of gratitude and the dedication her husband had towards the cause of the people.'

The reforms of 1970 denied the opportunity to women as well as other underrepresented groups in Parliament to find representation through the Second Chamber of Senate.

Economic hardships

The 1977 elections brought in a change of government with a resounding victory for the UNP, J. R. Jayewardene led the campaign for the UNP while Bandaranaike led the SLFP. The great majority of women outvoted Bandaranaike in this election on economic hardships caused in the decade but in 1970 she won by a 2/3 majority.

The eighth Parliament controlled by UNP had eight women members: Sriyani Daniel (Hewaheta), Renuka Herath (Walapone), Wimala Kannangara (Galigamuwa), Ranganayaki Pathmanathan (Pottuvil), Sunethra Ranasinghe (Dehiwela), Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake (Wariyapola), Daya Sepali Senadheera (Karandeniya), L. M. E. Wijesiri (Harispattuwa). Of them Wimala Kannangara was sworn in as Minister of Shipping and Aviation and Tourism.

There was little improvement in the nomination of women as contestants MPs or Ministers, except for nominating Senadheera a woman political activist. The new Constitution and the historical move of having an elected President of the century saw the light of day on February 4, 1978 repealing the 1972 Constitution. The Cabinet underwent a change. Wimala Kannangara was appointed in-charge of Rural Development.

A new concept under this Constitution was the appointment of district ministers. Renuka Herath was allocated the Nuwara Eliya District - of the 24 district ministerial positions only one was set apart for women.

Recognised factor

There was little representation for women even among the 24 deputy ministerial positions. In fact representation for women did not seem a recognised factor in the first J. R. Government, though a few women entered parliament from different groups, breaking the privileged norms.

Moving to the second UNP Government under J. R. Jayewardene in 1980 the Health Ministry was brought under Sunethra Ranasinghe in 1983 and subsequently she was placed in-charge of the newly created Ministry of Women's Affairs and Teaching Hospitals. J. R. Jayewardene's second government recognised the cause of women through founding this ministry. She too came into politics on the death of her father S. de S. Jayasinghe, Minister of Fisheries in the JR Government.

Remarkable

Two women representatives were included in the Cabinet of 1987. What is remarkable is the ascending of a woman representative either on the death of her father, brother or husband Keerthilatha Abeywickrama, sister of Matara District Minister, Keerthi Abeywickrama who succumbed to his injuries in the grenade attack in Parliament in 1987, was another who made entry into politics in this manner. Besides R. Herath another women was drawn in as the District Minister for Batticaloa in the East - Ranganayaki Pathmanathan. Thus we note a slow acceptance of women into responsible position in the national arena.

Political horizon

As we march from 1947 to 1989 and the advent of the last decade of the 20th century much change is noticeable in the political horizon. Some of the worst experience of loss and damage the parties suffered occurred in these two decades besides the uprising of 1972 by the JVP and resulting consequences.

The 9th Parliament or National State Assembly was constituted in 1989 with the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. The number of members increased to 225 with 196 elected and 29 on the National List occupying parliamentary seats. Sunethra Ranasinghe (UNP-Dehiwela), Sunitha Priyangani Abeyweera (Kalutara), Renuka Herath (Walapone), R. M. Pullendran (UNP-Wanni), Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake (UNP-Kurunegala), W. M. S. K. Dharmawardena (UNP-Puttlam) A. C. Karunaratne (UNP-Badulla), Hema Ratnayake (SLFP-Badulla), D. M. E. Dissanayake (SLFP-Monaragala), Samantha Karunaratne (UNP-Kegalle) were the ten women representatives who found their way into the esteemed Assembly.

No woman was nominated to NSA from the National List of either the UNP or SLFP or any other representative parties. Representation in the Executive or at Cabinet rank was confined to one namely Renuka Herath (Health and Women's Affairs), Samantha Karunaratne (Social Services), Sunethra Ranasinghe (Education), Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake (Local Government) were sworn in as State Ministers.

With a reshuffling of the Cabinet in 1990 Renuka Herath retained her portfolio in the Cabinet, while Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake, Sunethra Ranasinghe were ministers outside the cabinet. Among the 28 State Ministers were Chandra Karunaratne (Women's Affairs), Samantha Karunaratne (Rehabilitation and Social Welfare), R. M. Pullendran (Education).

The 9th Parliament under the stewardship of R. Premadasa had to face the second uprising of the JVP plus the Impeachment Motion brought against the President himself - by two strong members of the UNP. He also had to face a wave of protests on the Indo-Lanka accord, from the JVP.

The sudden demise of the Deputy Minister of Defence Gen. Ranjan Wijeratne was another blow he could not endure. Amidst all this very little was done for the expansion of due representation for women in Parliament. While there was a growing hue and cry to lend an ear to the cries of women, making almost half the world's population, Sri Lanka remained passive in these years.

The strength of women was growing in the West as well as Asia. They were in the forefront of economic struggles, legal battles, in the Arts and Education - but adequate representation to voice their own woes and wants in the decision making body was negligible.

Resounding victory

The assassination of President R. Premadasa on May 01, 1993 and the assassination of DUNF Leader of the Opposing Faction - Lalith Athulathmudali and the group killing of UNP Presidential Candidate Gamini Dissanayake and 50 others in 1994 all created a chaotic situation in the country. The elections of 1994 saw a resounding victory for the People's Alliance and Ranil Wickremesinghe made the leader of the Opposition bowing out gracefully to public will.

1994 election paved the way once again to women-led Legislature and Executive. The President and leader of the PA Chandrika B. Kumaratunga assuming as the Executive President and Sirimavo Bandaranaike assuming office as the Prime Minister. The two women outdid the men in the Cabinet by office and power Srimani Athulathmudali found her way into the Cabinet by winning the Ratmalana seat as Minister of Transport, Environment and Women's Affairs. The entry of these three into key political positions was more through destiny rather than political experience.

Besides them there were five women Deputy Ministers, Sumedha Jayasena (Monaragala), S. Priyangani Abeyweera (Kalutara), Hema Ratnayake (Badulla), Nirupama Rajapakse (Matara), Pavitra Wanniarachchi (Ratnapura) who held their positions in Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Internal and External Trade, Livestock Development and Rural Industries, Tourism and Aviation, Health and Social Services respectively.

Sharing

There were altogether 12 women MPs in the 10th Parliament. This was an achievement for women in that there were nine as Cabinet Ministers and Deputies sharing executive power. In her second Cabinet after her 2nd Presidential Election and 11th Parliament in 1999 December there were three women ministers - namely Sumedha Jayasena and Ferial Ashroff (after her husband's demise) and Pavithra Wanniarachchi for Women's Affairs, North-East Rehabilitation and Rural Housing and Plan Implementation respectively.

Chitra Srimani Manthilake (UNP-Kandy), Mary Larine Perera (UNP-Puttlam), Amara P. Ratnayake (UNP-Kurunegala), Chandrani Bandara (UNP-Anuradhapura), Mallika de Mel (PA, Matara), Ferial Ashroff (PA, Digamadulla), U. S. Kumari Tennakoon (PA, Kurunegala), Sumedha Jayasena (PA, Monergala), Pavithra Wanniarachchi (PA, Ratnapura), Anjaan Umma (JVP, Gampaha) came into the 12th Parliament in the 2001 December elections that followed. Though there was a slender representation from four political parties through this election, we cannot call it impressive. Efforts by the PA organiser or the UNP motivated Lak Vanitha Movement to harness support for women fell short of expectations.

Individual freedom

Women do not dare to suffer untold harassment - specially physically and to their homes in the absence of adequate security before and after elections. In a democracy individual freedom needs to be safeguarded irrespective of gender status or private wealth. But have we in Sri Lanka reached this stage yet? The best testimony to this is the election time when one's right to vote, express ideas and contest if one desires under any colour or symbol is safeguarded.

How far have we moved from 1947 in this respect? Or is there a deterioration of the principles of democracy over the years? This should receive the urgent and immediate attention of all political parties concerned, and active supporters of the political parties.

Hiring of thugs to scare away the campaigns of contestants and voters is still rampant as voiced by certain observers and other media. This inspite of the efforts made by the Elections Commissioner, the Police Department and the Party Heads. A consciousness among the women themselves is all-important in remedying this situation.

Thuggery is mainly resorted to by males. As women do not reply through thuggery its but right that they organise themselves irrespective of party loyalties to resist such violations of one's freedom of thought and action for the greater good of women kind. No doubt our political leaders of the day have realised the might of women, Let them be given a fair hearing.

So use woman-ness as an asset rather than a liability.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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