The 25 per cent quota for Women in Local Government has been ensured by the Local Government Elections (Amendment) Bill which came into effect this week, Minister Sudharshini Fernandopulle said while addressing the media yesterday. The Minister who is also the Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Women´s Front has previously opposed the bill and threatened to vote against it if it was presented to parliament without the necessary amendments ensuring a 25 per cent quota for women in local government.
¨1400 seats were promised to women in the bill which amounted to a mere 16 per cent” she said, adding that she had then voiced her objections while demanding 25 per cent of the seats were allocated for females. According to the Minister, the demands were met with the support of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The representation of women in Sri Lankan politics has been the lowest among the South Asian nations. As of 2012, only 4 per cent of seats in Provincial Councils and 1.9 per cent in Local Government have been held by women.