No adequate political space for capable women

Activists clamour for quota system:

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Sri Lanka is still struggling to mainstream the idea of 25 percent reservation for women candidates. There had been lobbying for over two decades with more consistency and strength.

The 20th Amendment which provided a quota for women received a warm welcome from women in politics at different levels. However women in active politics say that political parties do not give adequate space for capable women despite them coming forward continuously. "This is where a quota system becomes compulsory for women to enter politics," said Chief Executive Officer of the 'Viluthu' Centre for Human Resource Development Shanthi Sachithanandam. 'Viluthu' works in the North and the East at grassroots level empowering women. Despite the fact that women are willing to contest in highly competitive male dominated politics, the attitude of the traditional role of women still dominates, said Sachithanandam. "It is a very complicated issue at the village level where capable women are held back by family and society," she added. Political parties being unable to come to terms on 'other issues' of the 20th Amendment, the most promising chance of women taking to politics seems to have distanced again. Dr. Farzana Haniffa, a long term academic working on women's issues, commenting on the present situation said that avoiding the 'rush' would be a good sign. "These changes need to be well established in the political and social system. It needs time," she emphasised.

Being a significant feature in the social and political spheres, the women's quota to be established in the new electoral reforms should be familiar with people and political parties, she added.

More women and youth in politics

Deputy Justice Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe said, in giving more chances it will make politics more sensitive and easy to relate to people's burning issues. "By more women coming in, we believe that there will be less chance on corruption in politics because women tend to be more concerned of their dignity and adverse comments by the society are reluctant to take illegal action. This will eventually make politics more attractive. Isn't that what we all are expecting in 'good governance'?," he added.

Hunais Farook, an MP representing the Young Political Leaders' Forum of Sri Lanka (YPLF-SL) said that increasing women representation in politics is a step towards stronger democracy. The YPLF-SL released a Working Document with key recommendations and the Multi Year Action Plan to increase women's representation in political institutions. The YPLF highlighted the importance of making the current quota for women and youth mandatory.

Women in politics are not just about gaining power. It is more about representing nearly half of the Sri Lankan population which consists of women. Though Sri Lanka is proud that it produced the world's first woman Prime Minister and the country's first woman President, the common opinion is we still lack strong women politicians as role models.