Category Archives: News

Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus examine the 22nd Amendment Bill from a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) perspective

Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus held discussions regarding the matters related to the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution from a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) perspective recently (06) in Parliament. The discussion was held at a meeting of the Women Parliamentarian’s Caucus chaired by Hon. (Dr.) Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Member of Parliament. Whilst highlighting the Salient features…

Age of a person acknowledged as a child raised from 16 years to 18 years

Amendments proposed to the Children and Young Persons Ordinance Discussed at the Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament its recommendations to ensure gender equity and equality Amendments proposed to the Children and Young Persons Ordinance establishes that the age of a person who shall be a child will be raised…

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus consider the formulation of a Bill for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus which met in Parliament recently under the chairmanship of Hon. (Dr.) Sudarshani Fernandopulle, took into discussion the proposal presented to the Committee with the objective of ensuring the rights and protection of Sri Lankan women as well as gender quality. Accordingly, the proposals to the Bill includes the establishing of an…

In commemoration of the International Youth Day of 2022

Today on the 12th of August 2022, we commemorate the International Youth Day which recognizes the role of the youth in education, community development, environmental groups, volunteering for different social projects and in tackling global issues. This Day was first established by the UN General Assembly in 1999 through a resolution whereby it endorsed the…

Allowing mothers with children under 05 years of age to go abroad for domestic work has a negative impact on child development – Parliamentary Select Committee

Allowing mothers with children under the age of 05 years to go abroad for domestic work has a negative impact on the early childhood development of those children, the Parliamentary Select Committee on gender equality to make necessary recommendations and report to Parliament stated.   When women go abroad for domestic work (unskilled labor), the…

Pay special attention to public officials who are pregnant when allocating them to positions in close proximity to their residence – Women Parliamentarian’s Caucus

The Women Parliamentarian’s Caucus requests that in view of the current fuel crisis prevailing in the country, the method of assigning pregnant government officials who are facing severe difficulties with obtaining sufficient transportation facilities to another work station close to their residence should be a mandatory implementation and opportunity for pregnant officials who cannot be…

In celebration of the International Day of Parliamentarism

Today, on the 30th of June 2022, we celebrate the International Day of Parliamentarism which recognizes the role of parliaments in national plans and strategies and in ensuring greater transparency and accountability at national and global levels. This Day was first established by the UN General Assembly through a resolution adopted in 2018 which also…

No to Hate | Statements on the International Day of Countering Hate Speech

“In a country where women actively participate and contribute to the economy in many professions; the only sector where women’s absence is strikingly visible is the political arena. This is due to the unwillingness of women, coupled with the lack of opportunities for women, to participate in politics. Although there are other socio-economic factors, I…

In celebration of the Inaugural International Day for Countering Hate Speech

වෛරී කථනයට එරෙහි ප‍්‍රථම ජාත්‍යන්තර දිනය සැමරීම සනිටුහන් කරමින් අද, 2022 ජූනි 18 වන දින, අපි වෛරී කථනයට එරෙහි ප‍්‍රථම ජාත්‍යන්තර දිනය සමරනු ලබනවා. වෛරී කථනය පිළිබඳ ගෝලීය වශයෙන් සිදුවී ඇති නැගී සිටීම සහ ඒ පිළිබඳ දක්වන උනන්දුව හඳුනා ගනිමින්, පසුගිය වසරේ ජූලි මාසයේදී එක්සත් ජාතීන්ගේ මහා මණ්ඩලය මඟින් ”වෛරී කථනයට එරෙහිව අන්තර් ආගමික සහ…

A Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Section for Parliament launched

The opening of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Section under the patronage of Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Speaker of Parliament, held today (08) in celebration of the International Women’s Day. The new GESI Section established in the Library of Parliament consists of many books and reading material on Women studies including the female…