http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/08/17/news13.asp

Nipuni WIMALAPALA

Sri Lankan Women’s Agenda on Peace, Security and Development will be presented to the government at Earl’s Regency Hotel in Kandy at 10 am today with the participation of Nobel Peace Prize Winner of 2011 Leymah Gbowee as the Guest of Honour. This was revealed at a press conference at Galle Face Hotel yesterday.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to be the Chief Guest.

The Agenda has been formed by the Association of War Affected Women in collaboration with most of the woman political representatives from political parties and women’s movements in Sri Lanka.

The agenda which has been formed in line with the UN resolution 13 25 on women and the LLRC report , mainly focuses on women’s participation in decision making, poverty reduction, security of women and post war rehabilitation and reconciliation.

“Women’s participation in decision making should be uplifted by increasing the women’s representation in Parliament to achieve better status for women”, said Gbowee addressing the media yesterday. She further said it is difficult for the government alone to safe guard women and young girls, upgrade their economic status and solve issues of the war affected women.

The support of every capable person combined with the efforts of the authorities would make a better environment for the women regardless of ethnic, religious or geographical boundaries.

MP Rosy Senanayake who plays a vital role in the programme, said women’s participation in Parliament should be increased at least to 20 percent since the majority of the country’s population (53%) is women. According to her, eventhough many women are willing to enter politics, they are discouraged by the prevailing political system.

She also stressed the importance of an increase in the financial allocation for women’s affairs and child development and further requested that there should be separate courts for women and child abuse cases as one third of current court cases are related with women and children.

Technology and Research Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Chairperson of the Association of War Affected Women Visaka Dharmasena, former minister Ferial Ashraff, and other woman politicians and professionals helped draft the agenda.