- Rights of women should be upheld
- Sex education for children essential
In an era where the empowerment and protection of women and children are at the forefront of societal discourse, Sri Lanka stands poised to address these pressing issues with vigour and determination.
In this interview, we engage with the State Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment Geetha Kumarasinghe to gain deeper insights into the government’s initiatives aimed at uplifting women, safeguarding children, and promoting social empowerment.
Excerpts from the Interview
Q: International Women’s Day (March 8) is coming up. What special initiatives has the Government done so far to uplift women?
A: I believe that every day is a woman’s day because the service provided by women is priceless. I would say in Sri Lanka women are unpaid servants because unlike in other countries household responsibilities are not shared by the husband and wife in our country. Thereby women tend to go to Middle East countries thinking that they will get better opportunities but it is the worst because our women are not trained to work in those modern houses. And the language issue also persists. So training these women does not come under my Ministry. The Foreign Employment Bureau conducts some training programs but they are not up to standard.
We have introduced two pivotal bills aimed at preventing gender-based violence in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, these Bills include the Gender Equality Bill, and the Women’s Empowerment Bill, which are crucial steps in advancing gender equality and safety in the country.
The purposes of the Women’s Empowerment Bill are: Securing women’s rights, Establishment of Independent Women’s Commission to investigate violations of women’s rights, and making the Sri Lanka Women’s Bureau a department under the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and Social Empowerment.
And also the objectives of the Gender Equality Bill are: Affirmation of Gender Equality Rights including (LGBTIQ) community, Establishment of Gender Equality Council, and recruiting and appointing gender equality (Gender Focal Point) institutions under the council.
Moreover, we have a separate program to distribute nutrition packs to pregnant mothers. These packs will be provided for 10 months and each pack, per month, is valued at Rs.4,500. In addition, we are conducting training programs regarding self-employment for women. Moreover, we provide them with grants to initiate new business under a low interest.
Q: Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara, has said that he will take steps to halt sending women as housemaids and has called for proposals regarding that. What is your take on this?
A: I believe that we will not be able to halt sending women as housemaids because there is a huge demand for Sri Lankan women. Even if the Government does not send, the private sector will send our women as housemaids which will create even more problems.
The problem here is our women are very talented and they need proper training. Instead of addressing the key issues it is useless making such statements. Because considering the education levels of many of our women, we cannot send women for high skilled jobs. Or else instead of housemaids, we will be able to send them as factory workers. But from my point of view, if our women are trained properly and informed about their rights, we will be able to provide better service because hospitality is something that is highly prevalent in Sri Lankans.
Q: There are a lot of women who have no right to the land they live in. How will the Urumaya program help their cause?
A: There are numerous families who have benefited from the Urumaya program. For example, people do not even tend to plant anything because they do not own the land. Therefore, the “Urumaya” program has immensely benefitted thousands of people and they have got their land rights. It is essential that people do home gardening during these crucial times. So the Urumaya program has even ensured food safety for people. The credit goes to President Ranil Wickremesinghe because he took all the measures to expedite this program.
Q: The Online Safety Bill (OSB) seems to be widely misunderstood and politicians on both sides have only been highlighting the more political side of it. But how does it ensure the safety of women and children from various nefarious acts on the internet and social media?
A: As a politician, I never had an issue on social media but I have faced numerous hate speeches as an actress. Nevertheless, a country like Sri Lanka needs some discipline. Because people hardly respect each other and especially women are not treated with respect in our country. Therefore, I believe that not only children and women every citizen is benefited from the OSB.
Q: There is a lot of resistance in society to sex education for both girls and boys in our conservative society. How can this be widened in order to stop unwanted youth pregnancies, suicides and so on?
A: I am 200 percent on board with that. We should start this from the pre-school level. Sex education is designed to help young people gain the information and skills they need to make the best decisions for themselves about sex and relationships throughout their lives.
Sex education gives young people age-appropriate, medically accurate information and answers to their questions about sex and relationships, without being shamed or judged. It has been proven to positively impact young people’s lives. But too many young people do not have access to sex education, or the programs in their school are inaccurate. The Ministry of Education must swiftly take action regarding this. At times, even preschool teachers are not even qualified to teach young children, keep aside sex education.
Q: There are only a few women in politics at all levels. How can this be addressed so that we can have more professional women in politics on par with other South Asian countries?
A: Almost all the women in Parliament now have come to power through the dead bodies of their fathers, brothers, uncles or husbands. Or else the party nominates them. Ninety nine percent of women in Parliament have come like that. In my case, I have been with the people from the ground level. I have been the most popular actress for seven years, we need to be with the hearts and minds of people. We need to be a voice to the people who cannot be a voice to themselves. I am standing on behalf of women and I am doing my very best.
In order to have more professional women, we need to have women who have passion to serve humankind. And also I think education does not play a major role in politics. One must have that kindness and the passion to extend a warm heart. Moreover, it is essential to make sure that they come from quite well-off families, otherwise, they tend to earn from politics.
And also, there is a way to climb the political ladder. One must start from the grassroots level, starting from the municipal council and then the Provincial Council and so on. I would also mention that in our Parliament women do not have the space to express ideas. We still have gender prejudice and gender biasness.
Q: Turning to politics who or which camp will you be supporting at the Presidential election? If President Ranil Wickremesinghe comes forward will you be supporting him and why?
A: I cannot answer that question directly but I would say President Ranil Wickremesinghe is one of the greatest leaders that Sri Lanka got. Everybody was hiding behind curtains, only he came forward to take over the country. We were at the verge of anarchy and he stopped that. The President is doing everything on behalf of the country.
Q: Whoever wins the election what are the policies that you would like to see in Government policy with regard to children and women?
A: I believe that prioritising gender equality and equal opportunities for all individuals is crucial, regardless of who wins the election. Respecting and upholding the rights of women should be fundamental in any Government policy. However, achieving these goals requires transcending party politics and committing to genuine progress.
Additionally, it is imperative to establish a solid foundation for children, starting with early childhood education. Unfortunately, preschool education often receives minimal attention. We urgently need a regulated system to oversee preschools, ensuring they meet standards of quality and employ qualified teachers.
Policies should aim to support working parents, particularly mothers, by providing affordable childcare options and parental leave. This not only benefits families but also contributes to a more inclusive and equitable society.
In summary, I advocate for policies that promote gender equality, prioritise early childhood education, and support families in balancing work and care giving responsibilities.
These measures are essential for building a society where both women and children can thrive.
