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by Don Asoka Wijewardene

On a request made by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), a special bus service for "Women Only" will come into operation commencing January 2003.

The Proposal has the blessings of the President of the Private Bus Operators Association. The purpose of the the service is to ensure that working women in Colombo do not face harassment at the hands of males while travelling to and from work. On an proposal made by one and the only female councillor Mrs. Sharmila Gonawala, CMC has formed a committee for the prevention of "Abuse of Women and Children".

The committee comprises Colombo mayor Prasanna Gunawardena, CMC Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Mahinda Balasuriya, Municipal Councillor, Mrs. Sharmila Gonawala and film artiste Lal Weerasinghe.

Colombo Municipal Commissioner Jayantha Liyanage told the 'Sunday Observer' that Mayor Prasanna Gunawardena had already allocated a sum of Rs. 25 million for year 2003 budget to implement a program to safeguard women and children.

The CMC has realised that abuse of women and children has become one of the major contributary factors for deterioration of public health. According to statistics from the Bureau of Women and Children of the Sri Lanka police, there has been a rapid increase of violence against women and children within the Colombo Municipal limits. The Committee for the Preven- tion and Abuse of Women and Children has decided to ensure that the following proposals are implemented effectively.

To prevent and avert the abuse of women and children and provide free legal advice for victims with a counselling service, with the help of maternity homes.

2. To promote and utilise the existing relationship between Colombo Municipality and the Sri Lanka police to arrest the situation.

3. To enlist the co-operation and the assistance of female lawyers and police officers to make the effort a complete success.

4. To ensure that possible legal measures will be implemented to control modes of advertising - audio and visual that encourage violence.

5. To ensure minimising harmful effects by employing them as domestic aide and to provide remedial legal protection where necessary.

6. To educate women on their legal and social rights to minimise domestic and related violence and make the Colombo city a women and children friendly city in the year 2003.

7. To ensure that every 7th bus leaving a respective terminal to be a "Women Only" one, and to ensure that working women in Colombo do not face harassment while travelling.

8. To ensure that the CMC provides a sales centre for women.

9. The CMC to maintain a register of all women and children employed in the city of Colombo as domestic aides.

10. To conduct awareness programs on abuse of women and children to enlighten the general public. The Commissioner also said that several awareness programs had been conducted on the topic of Legal Aid Foundation by female lawyers engaged in private practice. He said that the police had agreed to assist the CMC in its new project and the project would provide a separate post box and a telephone number to contact the relevant police station in instances where a party was unable to call over at a particular station.

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