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State Minister Fernandopulle calls for formulating national policy on gender equality

Published

5 years ago

2021/09/25

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.

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PM on inspection tour of newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand

Published

20 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

The Colombo Central Bus Stand, which has a history of over six decades and had remained without a proper maintenance for many years, has now been renovated under the current government’s development programme and vested to the public. Following that, the Prime Minister undertook an inspection tour of the newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand.

Originally constructed in 1964, the bus stand was refurbished with modern facilities to meet current needs and was officially reopened to the public on April 8. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide passengers with a higher-quality and more comfortable transportation service.

During the renovation process, special attention has been given to the comfort and safety of women, which was commended by the Prime Minister. In particular, a modern rest area designed to ensure privacy for nursing mothers travelling from distant areas received special praise.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the newly introduced passenger seat reservation system and information services established to assist commuters. In addition, the modern surveillance unit and other security measures installed within the premises to ensure passenger safety were also inspected.

During the visit, the Prime Minister engaged in conversations with passengers at the bus stand and inquired about their views on the newly renovated facilities and the quality of transport services.

It was emphasized that the government’s objective is to transform public transportation into a safe, technologically advanced service that can be used with convenience by all citizens.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon today (10)

Published

20 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (10th) are Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition tells Minister Kumara Jayakody to resign

Published

22 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Prof. Peiris

No-faith motion to be taken up today

Former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (9) said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should remove Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody unless the minister stepped down on his own.Prof. Peiris, addressing a press conference called by the Opposition, said that Jayakody couldn’t under any circumstance continue to serve as a minister after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) moved the Colombo High Court against the government member over a previous financial scandal.

Pointing out that Minister Jayakody had been indicted of a corrupt deal struck during the yahapalana regime, Prof. Peiris said it was wrong for the NPP to retain him as a minister, claiming that the offence was not committed during his tenure as a Cabinet minister in the current government.

Prof. Peiris and several other Opposition members dealt with the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Jayakody that would be taken up today (10) with the academic calling the vote an acid test for the NPP. Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform at presidential and parliamentary polls, the NPP couldn’t protect Jayakody though he was widely believed to be close to President Dissanayake.

As the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company, Jayakody is alleged to have committed the offence of corruption, according to CIABOC.

Jayakody has been accused of causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the State by influencing and exploiting the procurement process.

Following the serving of indictments on 27 March, the judge ordered Jayakody’s release on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 1 million each. The court directed that the defendant’s fingerprints be obtained and a formal report be submitted. The case has been scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 6 May.

Prof. Peiris stressed that the CIABOC action against Jayakody is central to the NCM primarily moved over the irregularities ridden coal procurement process launched in 2025 that caused severe disruption to the power generation. Responding to The Island query after the media briefing, Prof Peiris expressed surprise that the JVP/NPP accommodated a person under investigation by the CIABOC. Having taken an utterly irresponsible decision, the JVP/NPP were now playing down the developing issue, prof. Peiris said.

The entire government parliamentary group faced the prospect of having its image tarnished by defending Jayakody, the former lawmaker said.

Prof. Peiris said that they intended to build a campaign around the issues involving the energy minister to expose the government. With yet another electricity tariff hike in the offing due to the growing demand for thermal generation as a result of coal-fired Lakvijaya power plant’s failure to meet the requirement[RA1] , the energy minister and ministry’s performances have to be examined, Prof. Peiris said.The timely release of the Auditor General’s report on controversial coal procurement should compel the government to decide on the energy minister’s fate or be prepared to face the fallout.

By Shamindra Ferdinando