Apen Ratata the inaugural convention of the All Party Women’s Front (APWF) to achieve a better female representation in the political arena was held with the participation of around fifty female political activists and well-wishers at the Viharamahadevi Open Air Theatre on Thursday (18) while others watched the proceedings which was live streamed.
Welcoming participants, SLFP Member of the Maharagama Municipal Council and Chairperson of the APWF, Chandrika de Zoysa called upon all females to put aside all differences and unite to safeguard the 25% quota allocated for women in LG bodies and to pave the way for better female representation in Provincial Councils and Parliament.
UNP member of the Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council and convener of the APWF Harshani Sandaruwani said the inaugural convention was proof that females could be brought together irrespective of their political affiliations. Harshani said that the APWF was envisioned in January 2021 and formed in February at a meeting attended by representatives of major political parties which paved the way for the inaugural convention in Colombo. She said that similar conventions would be held in other districts in the near
future and said that since the APWF has got off the ground called upon the membership to consider themselves as leaders of the front. Harshini said that many obstacles were being placed in the path of females aspiring to move forward in the political arena and said that these obstacles can be overcome by being united.
Former UNP MP and Deputy Minister, Dr Anoma Gamage said that the problems faced by all females were common irrespective of political affiliation. She said that women were not aware of the importance of the role they play in society and in day to day life. Dr.Gamage pointed out that full credit for the 25% female representation in LG bodies should go to former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and mentioned that her suggestion to allocate all National List slots of every political party to females was countered with many objections.
SLFP organizer for Ampara District and former MP and state minister Sriyani Wijewickrema said that she considered the forming of the APWF was a good omen and added that the ultimately goal of the APWF should be to increase female representation in political bodies to 50% or more. Addressing the convention former UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra called upon all female councilors and activists who are confident of contesting the next Provincial Council and Parliamentary Elections to demand nomination from their political party leaders and secretaries. She said that the leadership had agreed to allocate 25% of the nominations at the next PC elections for females. Premachandra said that females should not demand equality with males but demand for their rightful place.
The only male on stage of the APWF convention, National Coordinator of the Center for Monitoring Election Violence Manjula Gajanayake sharing his thoughts said that rather than being elected through the 25%quota female political activists should demand for nomination and take up the challenge to muster support from the voter to contest and win an election. “Party leaders and secretaries are the most anti female elements in the political arena” he added.
Female councillor Udeshika said that females are not given their due place because of politics and also urged authorities to either ban or dissuade women from taking up employment abroad as housemaids as it was a major cause to the breakup of many families. Addressing the convention, activist Kanaka Abeygunawardena requested journalists not to limit reporting on females on International Women’s Day but to report on the roles played by female councillors elected to Local Government Authorities.
Chief Executive Officer - Federation of Sri Lankan Local Govt. Authorities, Hemanthie Gunasekera, called upon members of the APWF not to allow sister councillors to be torn to bits by their male counterparts at council sessions and speak up in their support irrespective of the party they represent.
SLPP councillor of the Mahargama MC, Savithri questioned whether women who are subject to household violence are treated as they should be at the women’s and children’s bureaus of the Sri Lanka Police. She alleged that in most instances the complainant is compelled to return to her house while the perpetrator is let off with a simple warning. “Due to the insensitivity shown, the next time we hear of her may be a news report that she has taken her own life and the lives of her children” Savithri added. She also said that whenever female councillors are insulted at council sittings steps are taken to expunge the quote from the records. Executive Director of the Women and Media Collective, Kumudini Samuel who played a leading role in winning the 25% quota said that the 1,926 incumbent female councillors should jointly voice their concerns over the intention to scrap the quota in the future.The absence of the Mayoress of the Colombo Municipal Council, Mayor Rosy Senanayake and SLPP MP Gita Kumarasinghe who were to address the convention was felt.
