By Yenuli Ranaweera

According to the Sri Lankan constitution, presidential elections should be held every 5 years and parliamentary elections every 5 years. The last presidential election in 2019 saw Gotabaya Rajapaksa being voted President. His reign ended in 2022 when he was forced to resign following the protests and the “Aragalya” in the face of the worst economic crisis the country has seen since independence. Since then, Ranil Wickremesinghe has been voted into the presidency through a Parliamentary vote. The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections are crucial for the country and its democracy.

Now, there are plentiful promises on all sides; economic development, from paying off debt to increasing export production and uplifting domestic industries, promises about wage increases and all. Sri Lankans’ after all, are not new to election promises which may or may not be fulfilled.

However, a key point to note, in this election cycle especially, the importance given to women’s place in society and in the economy and how well the problems they face are addressed.

To provide context for the current state of female representation and women’s rights, consider this; women make up 51.9% of the Sri Lankan population. However, female labour force participation is 31.2% as opposed to the 71% male labour force participation. The International Labour Organisation has identified several supply-side and demand-side explanations for this including occupational segregation, income inequality, discrimination in employment, differences in the quality of jobs available to women versus the quantity of such jobs, and lack of entrepreneurship amongst women. These are caused by a combination of factors including restrictive legislative environment, and the status of the nature of employment in the country. Under such circumstances, it was stated at the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus that gender perspectives should be integrated into the budgetary process to promote gender equality and social inclusivity.

The situation is truly not much better in the political arena. To represent 51.9% of the Sri Lanka population, as of 2020, there are 12 female parliament members which is 5.8% of the 225 members of the parliament. In local authorities, the female representation is only 1.9%. According to Local Authorities (Amendment) Act No. 1 of 2016, there is a 25 % mandatory quota for women’s political representation in parties contesting for local government. And yet, there are clear lapses in implementation, as most political parties were simply woefully underprepared to field the large number of female candidates necessary for elections as mandated, nor did they have the adequate internal structures to ensure a transparent and democratic process of selection. In a country that prides itself on having the world’s first female prime minister, this is truly a sorry state.

With the elections coming up, and promises being left and right, where the political parties and the key players of the arena stand on how to resolve the myriad of issues faced by women in the country?

In a demonstration of the current government’s commitment to safeguarding women’s rights, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that plans to establish a dedicated commission to enforce legal measures aimed at empowering women. The primary objective will be to facilitate the advancement and empowerment of women by implementing mechanisms to protect their rights, all by constitutional provisions.

Further, he has stated that a Gender Equity Bill is expected to pass before the end of June. As the PMD reported, the president has stated that this bill seeks to establish principles of gender equality across various sectors, including social, political, economic, cultural and technical policies, while also providing the necessary infrastructure to support these principles. He has also stated that there will be a launch of a specialised education program to raise awareness about women’s rights and empower them properly.

For the SJB, under the leadership of Sajith Premadasa, most such initiatives are undertaken through the women’s wing of the party, samagi vaitha balawegaya. Along with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, the United Nations declared the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence initiative. A parallel programme was launched by the Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya, the women’s wing of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya on November 25. In addition to programmes such as demonstrations, street dramas and island-wide protests, SJB MPs wore stickers with slogans to end violence against women during the Parliamentary session on November 25. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has also stated the introduction of a Women’s Charter during the Presidential Election. Accordingly, some of its proposals include establishing a constitutional commission for women and giving legal authority via an Act passed in Parliament, establishing gender equality, ensuring women are served justice and empowering women who spearhead the economy. Further, the charter also aims to improve their vocational skills through training and education, improve maternal health for a healthy generation, implement women-headed programmes at political and social levels, end violence against women, improve the socio-economic status of women who were widowed due to the ethnic conflict or otherwise along with women in women-headed households and empower women to establish a happy family unit.

According to former MP Hirunika Premachandra, the organiser for Samagi Vanith Balavegaya, SJB is firmly committed to developing the SME sector and entrepreneurship, which we view as the backbone of our economy. While the importance of foreign employment as a source of revenue generation for the country is understood, strong advocates of safe migration and ensuring that the women who migrate for foreign employment should be safe.

Another admirable proposal that was brought forth during the 2019 election cycle, is the distribution of free menstrual napkins to women. In a country where women are severely affected by period poverty, a topic most considers taboo to even mention, this is a step in the right direction.

NPP (National People’s Power) more commonly known as, Malimawa, also has a women’s wing. For the 2024 election year, the party has conducted women-led rallies across the country under “Gehenu api eka mitata”. In these rallies, the party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake acknowledged the toll the economic crisis has taken on women. He further acknowledged the harassment women go through in public transport, increasing rates of domestic abuse and the lack of public utilities available for women. In these rallies, he has promised to create a political environment where women are given equal opportunities regardless of the family’s political involvement as was the case before. In 2020 the JVP-led Jathika Jana Balawegaya stated that they will change a number of laws to help women: reproductive rights will be deemed women’s rights; the Vagrants Ordinance will be abolished; land ownership will be brought in for female-led households; domestic violence laws will be strengthened; so will laws covering abuse in workplaces and on public transport, and sexual abuse. They have also proposed a 50% female representation in all elections. During his 2019 election campaign, Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that they will stop sending Sri Lankan women to the Middle East for employment under a government of his.

Dr. Harini Amarasooriya has also spoken about the party striving to provide a platform for women in politics through creating women-led initiatives.

There is also attention paid to women of marginalised communities. After Participating in the launching of the Malaiyaga 200′ Hatton Declaration on October 15 2023. Anura Kumara Dissanayake states in a X post; “Malaiyaga Tamil women are the backbone of the plantation sector. Women’s labour force is highest in plantations. (This is about 52% in Nuwara Eliya.) The National People’s Power will ensure the rights, equality and dignity of Malaiyaga Tamil women in formal and informal employment. Malaiyaga Tamil women have not got their proper place yet.”

During the 2020 parliamentary election campaigns, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) discussed the increase of sexual and gender-based violence in the country. The manifesto pledged to create a society that respects women and aspires to the highest moral and ethical standards to protect girls and women. To make it easy for women to be able to report violence or harassment to the nearest police station, the party has suggested a 24-hour emotional support and advisory helpline be established under the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs so that women can contact the centre for support and help. It was also suggested to set up a separate unit within the Police Commission would be set up to take swift disciplinary action against officers who fail to uphold gender equality.

The party also intended to start a programme to train women for high-demand professions such as nursing. Support for women entrepreneurs will be extended by establishing and expanding financial and business development services for rural women to start their own businesses and cottage industries so that they generate an income through home-based enterprises rather than engaging in employment away from home.

Perhaps not to speak for all, I too have certain policies and avenues that I would like to see implemented. First and foremost, it is impossible to speak of women in politics without paying serious attention to the harassment faced by female politicians at the hands of male politicians. Being a woman, especially a woman in politics, does not inherently mean that they should be subjected to such harassment and verbal abuse, nor should this be normalised for made to consider something you will simply have to accept. In a country where the value of a woman is preached so often, and school children are taught the basic concept of respect, it is shameful that grown individuals who have been elected by public vote behave in such an unbecoming manner. There should be severe consequences for such actions, and penalties that are executed swiftly and without fail.

Further, perhaps this election cycle the 25% quota of female representatives per party should be upheld strictly, without space for any excuses or undemocratic processes.

Another point of notice is the excessive unpaid care work that burdens women. This is especially true in times of economic crisis. While some parties have certainly acknowledged the problem, it would be appreciated to see proper policies set out to rectify this situation, Perhaps this may be reformed in education or healthcare that at the end of the day does not expect the women of the family to constantly forgo their comfort for the others.

Each party has given some attention to the problems faced by women, from lack of opportunities and barriers to entering politics, violence and harassment against women, equal working opportunities and even period poverty. The question remains, how many of these promises will be fulfilled? As the public with the power of deciding who we elect to make decisions on our behalf, it is time to hold the elected politicians to the promises they made.

[Thumbnail image courtesy Daily Mirror]