WUNRN
Sri Lanka Association of War Affected Women
Visaka Dharmadasa, Chair - http://www.awawsl.org/
SRI LANKA – IMPACT ON WOMEN OF THE 2015 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION IN SRI LANKA
On January 8th 2015 - 1,22,64,377 voters casted their votes to elects Sri Lanka’s 6th Executive President. A remarkable 81.52% people voted at this election which has not happened before. The elections monitors describe the election as hard fought and bitterly contested, but the significance of the results were all communities irrespective of all their differences did vote collectively for the new President.
We as women were instrumental in drafting a pledge for women and will closely watch that the issues that we brought forward will be addressed. This election is very important for the women of Sri Lanka, be it the plantation workers, garment factory workers, expatriate workers, women in agriculture and for all of us who want to see that our representation is increased in all tiers of governance.
We are happy to note that 5 women were given various ministerial positions which is 10 % compared to the 5.8% women in the parliament. Women of Sri Lanka are hopeful that the new government will deliver what they pledge to us, and we are watching carefully all actions they take.
Pledge
to Women of Sri Lanka
·
Custom
duties will be relaxed on 10 essential food items to give relief to the people
burdened with high cost of living. The prices of essential food items will come
down instantly as a result.
·
The
monthly Samurdhi allowance given to persons with the greatest economic
difficulty in making ends meet will be increased to a maximum equal to twice
the present allowance. A systematic and comprehensive programme will be
developed in conformity with the Jana Saviya Programme for their economic
development.
·
An
urgent programme will be immediately started to provide houses to people
without a shelter.
·
A
special protection scheme will be introduced for war widows of all communities
and their dependents. Women who head households and do not have a shelter will
be provided with a interest free loan scheme within two years to build a house.
·
I
will obtain the highest technical means available in the world to eliminate the
Dengue menace.
·
Every
mother will be given an allowance of Rs. 20,000/- at delivery to obtain
nutritious meals.
·
A
pension scheme will be started for those who are employed overseas. An interest
of 2.5% will be added to the current interest rate of their non-residential
accounts. A special family protection programme will be started to look after
the families of Sri Lankans labouring in foreign countries including those of
the Middle East.
·
At
this moment when oil prices have plummeted in the world market I will remove
the over Rs 40 billion government tax on oil and pass over its benefit to the
people as an immediate solution. Special subsidies will be given for public
transport services, Three Wheelers and Motor cycles. The price of a domestic LP
Gas cylinder will be reduced by Rs 300/-.
·
Maximum
action will be taken to prevent the abuse of women and children that has grown
to unbelievable proportions in the country due to the wrong actions of people
of all of life. I will provide facilities to speed up and end in a short span
of time the trials related to these offences. Thereby I will act to completely
stop the abuse of Women and children
Apart
from These:
Establish
a “Diripiyasa”, centers where women can seek solution for specific problems, in
each divisional secretariat. There will be a women police officer to receive
complaints, a lawyer to obtain legal aid, a doctor and a counsellor to obtain
mental health counselling service under one shelter. Also women who are going
for foreign employment can obtain advice and ensure their children’s safety
from Diripiyasa as well as all women can obtain services.
·
Will
Provide fair wages and proper sanitation facilities to estate women workers
·
Will
discuss with relevant authorities to ensure security, improved working
environment and fair wages to women employed as domestic workers aboard.
·
Will
propose a pension scheme for apparel sector women and improve their working
environment and lodging facilities.
·
Provide
a fair price and a market to rural agricultural sector women’s crops.
·
Take
all necessary steps to increase women’s political participation.
·
Provide
housing facilities, livelihoods and land to women affected by war as well as
provide solutions to their specific issues.
·
Take
immediate steps to fill in the necessities in Children and Women’s desks at all
police stations and provide proper facilities for them to perform their duty
with dignity as well as make their service effective to reduce violence against
women and children.
·
Provide
leadership and vocational training specific to women.
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