Zonta award for Parliamentary Secretary General

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: Parliament General Secretary Priyani Wijesekara, the first female Parliament General Secretary in Asia, has won a huge recognition by wining a Zonta International Award, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said.

He was addressing a felicitation ceremony held at the Parliamentary complex yesterday to honour Wijesekara, who won the Zonta award in the Law category. Prime Minister Wickremanayake said that Zonta born in America in the Nineteen Hundreds in a town called Buffalo was given publicity by a newspaper called Buffalo Express which wrote many editorials on women's liberation.

The organisation was entirely dedicated for the advancement of women. Today the organisation has spread all over the world covering a large number of countries and three other Sri Lankans had won Zonta awards earlier, he added.

Prime Minister Wickremanayake also said that Ms.Wijesekara has established a historical record by winning the Zonta Award. He thanked Zonta and also wished Ms.Wijesekara courage and strength to carry out her duties.

Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara said that Unduvap Poya Day is significant because it was the day women achieved liberation. After Sanghamiththa Bhikkuni brought the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi to Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan culture changed and mother won the status of 'Gedara Budun'. He stressed the importance of Therigatha and explained women's liberation in history.

There was no equality problem for Sri Lankan women and the country produced the world's first woman Prime Minister and the first woman Parliament General Secretary in Asia, he added. Women's Empowerment and Child Development Minister Sumedha G.Jayasena, Ms. Dhara Wijetilleke, a several Ministers, MPs representing both the Government and the Opposition, former Secretaries General of Parliament and the Parliament staff were present.