A Bill to establish National Commission for women soon

A Bill to establish a National Commission for Women will be submitted to Parliament very soon, Chair of the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said.

In addition two Bills on gender equality and women's empowerment are also ready to be submitted to the Parliament, she said.

These comments were expressed recently during a special discussion with Ms. Vanushi Walters, a member of the New Zealand Parliament, and of Sri Lankan origin, through zoom technology.

Moreover, the need to encourage women for politics was also discussed.

Views were also expressed regarding the importance of creating a favorable environment for women to actively contribute to the political process.

The Members of Parliament expressed their views on the need to increase the number of day care centers where their children can be kept safely, and it was also emphasized that the measures taken by New Zealand is exemplary and is of great importance.

Ms. Vanushi Walters said that she is trying to build relationships between female members of Parliament representing other Parliaments of the world as well as female members of Sri Lankan origin representing other Parliaments and the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus of Sri Lanka.

Mrs. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Vice Chair of the Caucus, Members of the Caucus Mrs. Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Mrs. Thalatha Athukorala, Mrs. Kokila Gunawardena, Mrs. Muditha Prishanthi, Mrs. Manjula Dissanayake and Dr. Ms. Harini Amarasuriya were present at the meeting held.

The discussion was organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized the session with the aim of empowering women's leadership in the country's politics, securing gender equality as well as strengthening the measures taken by the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus of Parliament for the betterment of Sri Lankan women.