Take India as an example says Maithripala

Raise voice against violence against women:

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Sri Lankan public should take the Indians as an example and raise their voice against violence against women, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

Minister Maithripala Sirisena

Indian women protest against the rape of a woman in India by bus crew recently

He said until this happens, it will not be possible to stop violence against women even if tough laws are introduced.

Minister Sirisena said a number of Sri Lankan women undergo sexual harassment daily while traveling in public transport while a large number of rural women are harassed by their drunk husbands. "Most victimised women suffer in silence because of their children. Some bear all types of abuse as they depend on their husbands as they do not have any source of income," he said

Minister Sirisena said many women in rural areas starve and provide food to their children as their husbands waste their income on alcohol and cigarettes.

"These women are scared of their husbands and say nothing against them. Sometimes, these men have mistresses. These men give their income to the mistresses. Urban women who undergo sexual harassment in buses and trains do not speak against perpetrators as they do not like to get verbally abused," he said.

The minister said the only way to stop violence against women was raising a voice against it together as the Indians did.

"The toughest laws only will not be able to protect women from crimes and violence against them," he said.

"The Indian media set a good example to the Sri Lankan media by not publicising the photograph and details of the raped girl," Minister Sirisena said.