Sri Lankan Women Call for Action: Key Messages for Presidential Candidates.

On Sunday, 1 September 2024, a collective of overseas Sri Lankans, under the banner of LEADS, gathered to formulate a strong message to the upcoming presidential candidates on behalf of the women of Sri Lanka. The message, presented just weeks ahead of the 21 September 2024 election, highlighted the critical need for greater female representation and inclusion in Sri Lankan society and politics.

Despite women constituting over half of the population in Sri Lanka, not a single female candidate is among the 38 contenders vying for the presidency. This stark imbalance raises concerns, particularly in a country where only 5.3% of the 225 parliamentary representatives are women, while 51% of the population is female. Sri Lanka ranks 182nd out of 193 countries for female representation in national parliaments, falling behind nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Kuwait.

The meeting, moderated by Soraya Deen, a Sri Lankan lawyer based in the United States, was spearheaded by two prominent legal professionals, Nilmini Roelens from the UK, and Ms. Deen herself. They tackled key issues affecting Sri Lankan women, from economic marginalization to social inequalities. Nilmini Roelens, in her presentation, stressed that Sri Lanka’s economic survival and growth depend on addressing the low female labour participation rate, which stands at just 35%, compared to 70% for men.

Nilmini Roelens also pointed out the paradox of Sri Lanka’s high literacy rates and equal levels of educational attainment between men and women. “It makes little sense to deny women the right to economic independence,” she argued, noting that financial empowerment could help women escape cycles of poverty and abusive relationships. She urged the next government to challenge societal norms and prioritize policies that would facilitate women's entry into the workforce. She also highlighted the broader economic challenges facing Sri Lankan women, particularly the disproportionate burden of indirect taxes like VAT on essential food items. These taxes, she argued, hit women-led households the hardest, especially amid the ongoing financial crisis. She called for the removal of VAT on all food items, which would provide much-needed relief for women struggling to make ends meet.

The discussion also focused on the issue of domestic abuse, including emotional and psychological abuse, which remains pervasive in Sri Lanka. Roelens and Deen both emphasized the need for stronger support systems for victims of abuse, urging the establishment of an independent commission for women, an initiative previously proposed but abandoned by earlier governments.

Soraya Deen, the moderator, raised the idea of a Women’s Charter, which had been proposed during a prior presidential campaign, as a vital step toward guaranteeing women's rights and protections. She pointed out that certain patriarchal and religious structures continue to suppress women's progress in Sri Lanka and emphasized the importance of increasing female participation in politics.

The forum concluded with a collective agreement that any future government must prioritize women's rights and ensure that women have a seat at the decision-making table. As Sri Lanka approaches a pivotal moment in its political history, the voices of women must be heard, their rights respected, and their potential fully realized.