A historic increase in the number of female members of Parliament has been hailed as a significant achievement but further action is needed for more female representation, says Deputy Co-Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, Chamindranee Kiriella.

Addressing the media at the parliamentary complex on Saturday (8) to mark Women’s Day, Kiriella said that although the record number of women MPs in the 10th Parliament was an important milestone, it still fell short of the representation needed to truly reflect the country’s demographics and women’s role in politics. “It is mandatory to maintain female representation in local government bodies at 25%. Parliament should have more than 10 percent of its MPs as females. Several countries in the region, including Pakistan, have female representation in Parliament at around 30%,” Kiriella said.

While acknowledging the achievement of having 10% female representation in Parliament, Kiriella stressed that much more needed to be done to ensure greater female participation in political life. She also noted that the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has a crucial role to play in pushing for faster progress, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts beyond party lines to address the barriers women face in politics.

“We must work to ensure that more women are encouraged to join politics. This is just the beginning, and we have a long road ahead to achieve greater gender equality in decision-making,” Kiriella said.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarsuriya also marked the occasion by highlighting the importance of this achievement in the context of the ongoing struggle for women’s rights. She warned that the country’s victory, which has led to the highest number of female parliamentarians in history, should not be undermined by reactionary forces.

“This victory, achieved through a long and hard-fought struggle, should be celebrated with pride on Women’s Day,” Dr. Amarsuriya said. “We must continue to build on this momentum to ensure that women’s voices are heard and respected in all spheres of society.”

Previously, Sri Lanka’s Parliament saw a maximum of 13 female MPs. However, the current Parliament now includes 22 women, a historic high that Prime Minister Amarsuriya described as a victory not just for women but for society.

“The increase in female representation is not an accident—it’s the result of years of advocacy and action,” she said. “We are committed to systematically dismantling the barriers that prevent women from participating fully in political and public life.”

In line with the celebrations for International Women’s Day, Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj announced that a Women’s Week will be observed, with a series of events aimed at promoting women’s rights and empowerment. She noted that, for the first time, many previously unheard voices from marginalized communities are now being represented in Parliament.

“This is a turning point, and we will use this increased representation to drive forward the country’s development, making sure the perspectives and concerns of women are central to policy decisions,” said Minister Paulraj.

Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the Secretary General of Parliament, underscored the Caucus’s ongoing commitment to expanding women’s participation in politics. She outlined the group’s efforts to protect women’s rights, prevent violence against women, and ensure equal rights for female workers.

” Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus will continue to press for policies that promote equality and ensure that women are fully represented in political, social, and economic spheres,” Rohanadeera said.