• Caucus Chair Dr. Fernandopulle calls for 1/3rd of preferential votes for women in future while Dr. Harini urges ‘quality grassroots level reps’

The Women Parliamentarians Caucus explained the complete and conspicuous absence of female Presidential candidates in a candidate list of over 30 candidates, all males, as being multi-factorial but primarily due to the lack of support from political parties.

 “There are around 5% of women Parliamentary political representatives,” Women MPs’ Caucus Chairperson Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle told The Daily Morning yesterday (13). “Henceforth, we should have at least one preferential vote given to a woman at Presidential Polls.”

Fernandopulle observed that political parties are reluctant to nominate women unless they have a male relative connected to politics. “If they have a male relative connected to politics, they have a secure voter base,” Fernandopulle noted. “Otherwise, voters are reluctant to vote for them and instead question whether she is qualified and experienced. However, they don’t question male candidates in this way.” 

Elaborating further, Fernandopulle added that due to cultural stereotypes and gender-based biases, the average Sri Lankan voter is hesitant to vote for a female candidate while the belief that women have no place in politics is rampant, with many female political candidates facing ridicule on social media. 

“We need to educate voters on women’s political participation,” Fernandopulle said. “Women in political parties are either in the women’s wing or serving on behalf of another male party member. There are very few females who are at a decision-making level.”

However, Opposition MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya told The Daily Morning that changing the law in this regard would only have a limited effect. “Changing the law will not bring about much change,” Amarasuriya claimed, responding to a query on the preferential voting system. “We need to educate women at the grassroots level and ensure that quality women enter politics. Bringing in a Bill does not change anything.”

Sri Lanka has implemented a quota of 25% for women representatives at the Local Government (LG) level through the Local Authorities (Amendment) Act, No. 1 of 2016. However, a study done by the International Foundation of Electoral Systems found that women’s participation at the LG level relies on appointments made by male political party leaders.

With the making of deposits by Presidential candidates concluding today (14), Sri Lanka is yet to see a female candidate represented in the 2024 Presidential Election despite females constituting the majority of the country’s population and there being female politicians represented at all levels of governance – LG, Provincial, and national Parliamentary, and gender equality-related laws being put in place and operative in addition to various affirmative action policies on behalf of women.