President claims it is the SLFP that respected women

"The President said women have been afforded a good position since the inception of the party. SLFP is a party that recognised the importance of women. The first chapter of the Mahinda Chintana deals about women and children."

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(March 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) President Rajapaksa has emphasised that it is only the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which respects women. Despite incurring millions of losses, the government had rendered a valuable service to mothers of this country.

The President said women have been afforded a good position since the inception of the party. SLFP is a party that recognised the importance of women. The first chapter of the Mahinda Chintana deals about women and children. It also mentions that the use of alcohol should be stopped. He was of the view that it is a very important task. Earlier, the governments depended on revenue earned through cigarette and liquor taxes. The President opined that the government took the decision to halt the consumption of liquor as he considered the mothers more important than the taxes.

The President was addressing the SLFP Women’s Federation. Around 4000 women were present at this gathering at Temple Trees. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party had accorded esteemed status to women by appointing them to high positions in the political field, including the world’s first woman Prime Minister. The President pointed out that a recent survey carried out by an international website had consolidated the high status accorded to Sri Lankan women.

In her address, Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Women’s Federation and Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said according to the Mahinda Chintana, the upper most link of this society is the family. The mother is accorded the highest position in a family. She said she is proud about the fact.

Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle referred to the initiatives taken to grant maximum women’s representation for local bodies. Legislators could be 100 percent women. Even the women can be elected to Provincial Councils. Women can represent all members of local bodies. He queried as to why it is limited to 40 percent.

Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasuriya moved the resolution related to local bodies. (Picture from Daily Mirror)

- Sri Lanka Guardian