12 March 2022 06:00 am Views - 550
Go East and you’ll find that the house is unfinished. Parts of it have been started, then abandoned and are now falling into ruin. In others, every time a wall goes up someone bulldozes it down. In what should have been beautiful courtyards are shallow unmarked graves, wherein lie girls who died because they were deemed not worth feeding. In the East, some girls are transported as property, often with their parents’ connivance, to gratify adults’ sexual desires. Girls work the land, fetch the water, tend to livestock, cook and clean from dawn to dusk with no pay. Others are beaten with impunity. Hundreds of thousands die while giving birth because they lack the most basic hygiene and health care. In some corners of the East, women are not happy when they learn they’re pregnant. Often, they get a doctor to check the sex of the unborn child. If it’s a girl, the doctor removes it, and if the woman can’t afford the abortion, the child, once born, is suffocated or left alone to die.
In the Middle of the East, most women are banished from the public rooms, and when they are glimpsed at all they are covered from head to toe in garments dark and ugly. Many never learn to read or write; they are forced into marriage and seem to live pregnant ever after. They have no reproduction rights. If they are raped, the burden of proof lies on them to show their innocence, and in some rooms, women and girls as young as thirteen are publicly flogged and stoned to death for sexual disobedience. In the eastern side of the house, some people are so terrified by a woman’s sexuality that they cut the genitals of girl children, mutilating and branding them with the mark of ownership.”
Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
MALIK FERNANDO
Managing Director, Resplendent Ceylon / Director, DILMAH
Whether it is agriculture, apparel, overseas workers or keeping the home fires burning; women power our nation. Every day is woman's day. As Margaret Thatcher once said, “If You Want Anything Ask a Man, If You Want Anything Done Ask a Woman.” I hope I won't upset the men too much with this statement.
HIRAN COORAY
Chairman, Jetwing Symphony PLC
DIAN GOMES
Honorary Consul of Georgia / Former Chairman, Hela Clothing (PVT) Ltd.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the significant contribution made by women across all aspects of society from the arts and science to sports and politics. I am happy to say that my wife and I have raised two strong-willed and fiercely independent daughters of whom we are immensely proud. I’ve also been lucky enough to work alongside many incredible women both in sports and in the corporate world, too many in number to name here.
Sadly, proper gender equality still alludes us but things are moving in the right direction. I hope to see a fair and equal society in my lifetime.
MP SAJITH PREMADASA
Leader of the Opposition
International Women’s Day has been officially celebrated since the 1960s with the UN recognizing it officially in 1977. International Women’s day celebrates the impact of Women and Girls on society, on culture and on the economy, but more importantly, today we pay homage to the revolutionary spirit of the many women that organized, struggled and demanded equality throughout the ages. Sri Lankan society today stands on the
MP DR. HARSHA DE SILVA
Member of Parliament, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)
Imagine a world without gender disparity. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 ranks Sri Lanka 116 out of 156 countries, 14 places below from the year 2020. Today, women are twice as likely as men to be unemployed, and barely 9% of Sri Lankan firms have women in top managerial positions. Gender equality is not just a women’s issue but an economic issue, as Sri Lanka’s GDP could grow significantly in the long-run by closing its gender gap in the workforce. Crucial reform of our labor laws are required to pave the way for more women participation. In addition to inheritance laws that are unequal. Moreover, women remain acutely underrepresented in the political sphere as well, low as 5.4%, while women represent around 54% of the population. Cultural norms and gender stereotypes have direct implications on women’s educational pursuits, career longevity, and ability to participate in decision-making roles, thus let us #breakthebias and bring about gender equality in Sri Lanka. Together we can forge a gender equal society.
MP HARIN FERNANDO
Member of Parliament, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)
On Women’s Day, I wish to remind all Sri Lankans of our collective responsibility and duty to ensure that all women have the same freedoms, opportunities and liberties as men. Despite our history of having elected female leaders, I am conscious of the very real challenges that women in Sri Lanka face. The SJB are committed to ending all forms of discrimination against women and to ensure equal opportunity for everyone. We will create safer streets, safer work places and safer homes for all our women.
ARITHA WICKREMASINGHE
International Banking and Finance Lawyer / Equality Director, iProBono / LGBTIQ Activist
KUSUM WIJETILLEKE
PHD Candidate, International Relations / Writer / Political Activist
Society has been conditioned to place value on work based on ‘productivity’ as measured and rewarded in businesses and workplaces. We must also recognize the significant amount of ‘work’ that takes place in our homes, which involves raising children and caring for elders, work that is predominantly undertaken by women. This International Women’s Day, I would like to focus on the concept of work and its relationship to value. Care-work receives little economic recognition because it is unpaid. Further, domestic workers, nurses, nannies, teachers are all essential workers. Across industries, you find that some of the most challenging and crucial work in society is being carried out by women, who are not adequately rewarded for that work. Care-giving and raising children are not even considered ‘economic activities’. In order to correct this imbalance, we have to re-evaluate our concept of ‘work’ and ‘value’.
SANDEEP RODRIGO
Customer Experience Strategist
Before posting a ‘Happy Women’s Day’ post on Social Media, take a minute to consider what you have actually done in the past year to make women feel safer, more equal, valued, cared for, and celebrated. We need to make Sri Lanka a better and empowered place for women and not just post on Social Media once a year. (This goes out to brands too!)
RASIKA JAYAKODY
Founder, NextGen SL and Member of the United National Party
HIRAN COORAY
Chairman, Jetwing Symphony PLC
Women have played a critical role in developing the tourism industry in Sri Lanka over the years. Some have pioneered in developing the arts and crafts to market to tourists, while others have been involved in marketing the destination internationally. When it comes to hospitality, we are proud to have with us ladies who manage some of our leading hotels and continue to inspire the next generation of women leaders in the industry.