Empower widows - Minister Jayasena

Parliamentary Corrs

Prominent attention should be paid to the requirements of widows and their families with the conclusion of the war, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sumedha G Jayasena.

She was addressing a press conference held at the Parliamentary complex yesterday.

She observed that the children of those single parent family units encounter many difficulties and the widows should be supported and strengthened to face these challenges.

She noted that women Parliamentarians' caucus would come forward irrespective of party, ethnicity and religion to look into the needs of women throughout the island.

"About 52 percent of the population in the country consists of women. A greater percentage of those who are involved in the apparel industry, estate sector and foreign employment consists of women.

However, the treatment of the society towards women cannot be praised," she said.

Mahinda Chinthana policy targets to create a society that gives priority to the mother and we as women Parliamentarians hope to intervene in the problems of women over the country surpassing the boundaries of Parliament, she added.

Chandrani Bandara MP noted that the Government should come forward to arrive at various agreements with Middle East countries to prevent illtreatment experienced by female employees in those countries.