It was after much deliberation and meditation that Chandrika Soyza (Sri Lanka Freedom Party), Kanthi Kodikara (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna), Renuka Senarathne (United National Party), Shiromi Indika Cooray (Samagi Jana Balawegaya) and Savithri Gunasekera (Mahajana Eksath Peramuna) were named as co-coordinators of the Colombo district women Councilors caucus formed on Sunday.
All 132 female councilors elected to the 12 Municipal and Urban Councils in the Colombo district had been invited for the formation of the caucus.
Those present were given the opportunity to discuss among themselves and nominate a representative from each political party to the Council of the caucus. As most of those present were eager to sit on the Council, a secret ballot was conducted among the Party members and a nominee named.
Meditation was needed when the two Councilors representing a political party affiliated to the SLPP were unable to decide between themselves and as neither wanted to concede the opportunity, it was decided that existing affiliations as at Sunday should be represented by a single representative.
The vociferous SJB councillor of the Seethawaka Urban Council Shashi Hettiarachchi requested fellow Councillors to set aside political affiliations, caste, creed and religious beliefs and unite as Sri Lankans.
The forming of women Councilor’s caucases in all twenty-five districts in Sri Lanka is being facilitated by the Federation of Sri Lanka Local Government Authorities (FSLGA) to encourage women to actively engage in politics and empower aspirants with essential knowledge and skills to move forward in the political arena.
The project is being funded by the Canadian Government.