Protesters say MR has insulted all women

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), which staged a protest against the recent remark made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on its Leader Sajith Premadasa and his wife not bearing children, said today this was an insult to all couples unable to bear children.

“A father of three and a grandfather have insulted women. The insult is not directed at one family but at all the women who are unable to bear children because of health issues and other reasons. It is even directed at men who cannot bring forth a child. This has been done by a state leader,” SJB candidate Hirunika Premachandra said during the protest.

“This statement hurts all couples who wait anxiously to have a child. This is a slap given to women. Even those who were at this meeting were heard making various remarks on this statement made by the Premier. There may have been couples who are unable to bear children at this meeting.”

She said a woman awaits motherhood with great expectation while some lose their children before birth while others are unable to bear children for one reason or the other.

"Fathers are also affected by these kinds of issues. In our country, a young woman is asked when she is getting married, and after the marriage she is asked when she is going to produce children. If a married woman does not give birth to a child, two or three years after the marriage, she is often asked why she is not having a child. A woman suffers mentally when this happens. All men and women in the country should oppose such statements made by a responsible citizen of this country,” Ms. Premachandra said. (Yohan Perera)