By Saman Indrajith

State Minister of Primary Health Care, Pandemics and COVID-19 Disease Control (Dr) Sudarshini Fernandopulle has emphasised the need for formulating a national policy to ensure gender equality in Sri Lanka and to prepare an action plan to implement it.

The State Minister spoke for the need to formulate a National Policy and Action Plan to ensure gender equality in the country in her capacity as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee to make recommendations to ensure gender equity and equality with special emphasis on looking into gender-based discriminations and violations of women’s rights in Sri Lanka.

The PSC met recently with Minister Dr Fernandopulle presiding at the Parliamentary complex.

The PSC meeting was held with the participation of officials from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-School and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and Education Services and several other groups, parliament sources said.

Addressing the committee, the Additional Secretary to the State Ministry of Women and Child Development Nilmini Herath said that the formulation of a national policy in this regard was initiated many years ago. But it could not be submitted to the Cabinet for approval as it has shortcomings, she further stated. Nilmini Herath pointed out the possibility of formulating the aforesaid policy in a systematic manner by overcoming its shortcomings.

Minister Dr. Fernandopulle said that the participation of women in the field of employment and politics is at a minimum. Therefore, the State Minister pointed out the need to formulate and implement this policy as an urgent necessity. Furthermore, she explained that views of all parties should be obtained and that all parties should be informed in writing for the purpose of formulating the national policy as soon as possible.

NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that the national policy and action plan should be formulated with a focus on new concepts outside the traditional framework.

Director (Planning) J.P.S Jayasinghe and Additional Secretary to the State Ministry of Women and Child Development and Nilmini Herath requested to establish an action committee with the intervention of the select committee on the draft National Policy and its Action Plan and take action to rectify the shortcomings.

Minister Dr Fernandopulle said that steps would be taken to appoint a committee in this regard. Therefore, the Select Committee pointed out that this National Policy at the draft level should be directed to all parties who want to study it properly.

MP Sivagnanam Sreetharan, Officers of the State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-Schools and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and Education Services, Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Select Committee Kushani Rohanadheera and several other Parliament officials and other parties participated in the committee meeting held online.