Women's Day celebration organised by SLFP

Former President Chandrika Bandaranike Kumaratunga today said that while women had secured higher positions in their professions, their percentage still remained low in Parliament, Provincial Councils and local government bodies.

She expressed these views addressing the International Women's Day celebration organised by the women's organisation of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at the SLFP Headquarters.

"We have highly educated women with leadership qualities, but we have less than three percent Members of Parliament," she said.

She said the measures taken by the government to enhance female representation at local government bodies up to 25 percent is a timely decision taken by the government.

"Though the 25 percent female representation is not enough, it was a good start to ensuring equal political representation of the country's women," Kumaratunga said.

SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake said that the SLFP is a party which has a strong female support in every aspect.

SLFP is the only party to produce powerful female leaders. Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first female Prime Minister while her daughter ruled the country for a long time, he said.

"Since former President Chandrika Kumaratunga became the President of the country in 1994, the SLFP was able to hold the Presidency of the country for nearly 22 years," he added.

Dissanayake said the SLFPers who really love the party should gather around the party and not a person.

The President Maithripala Sirisena's daughter Chathurika Sirisena was the Chief Guest.

SLFP Women's Organisation President MP Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Technology and Research Minister Susil Premajayantha, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faiszer Musthapha, Petroleum Industries Minister Chandima Weerakkody, Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and former Minister Piyasena Gamage were also present