Women, children worst hit by conflict

President tells Women's Day celebrations at BMICH

Anjana Gamage

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday urged all groups who had taken up arms to put them down since women and the children were suffering as a result of the conflict.

Addressing the International Women's Day Celebrations at the BMICH, President Rajapakse pledged to ensure the safety of women.

"Women and children are the worst affected by war. It has a direct impact on the lives of mothers, sisters and daughters. I believe that if someone uses weapons for war, they are doing so because they are against mothers and children. We would like to tell all those who have taken up arms to abandon them not because we want to ensure the Government's safety, but because we give priority to the safety of women and children".

"Women should be given opportunities to take decisions on the country's security. The Mahinda Chinthana seeks more women's representation in all areas. We need to implement these promises and ensure their safety and well being. But to implement these agreements in Sri Lanka, we must first ensure peace," he said.

He emphasised that at this International Women's Day the best thing one must do in favour of Sri Lankan women is to stop all endeavours that lead to war.

"At the end of a war, those who participated in it can get a break, those who took up arms would return home the next day. But the women who suffered during the war are the ones who suffer most. They become widows or orphans in wars," he said.

President Rajapakse said that out of the country's total population, 52 per cent are women. More than 60 per cent of the national income is also earned by women.

According to him, Rs. 70,000 million in foreign exchange is sent by women. The majority of workers in the apparel and tea sectors are women.

"Women in Sri Lanka received the franchise in 1931 and Mrs. Francis Mollamure was the first woman elected to Parliament. We are proud of Sirimavo Bandaranaike who was the first woman Prime Minister in the world.

However, some had an opinion that high positions in this country can only be held by women in the upper class families. But the time has come to change that attitude now. From the day we received universal franchise in 1931 up to now 54 women have been represented in Parliament," he said.

Although 54 per cent of the country's population are women, only a few women are represented in Parliament. We have already announced that at least 25 per cent women should be nominated for elections. I wish good luck to all women contesting the Local Government and I hope to see their victory," the President said.