• Caucus Dep. Chair Chamindrani Kiriella concerned with lack of Budgetary funding, Chair resignation 
• Issues include Prez Secretariat not granting audience, possible NPP appointment to a Commissioner vacancy, lack of independent office space 

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Deputy Chairperson, attorney Chamindrani Kiriella said the Government’s failure to operationalise the National Commission on Women, despite coming to power with strong promises on women’s rights, was very disappointing.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the MP representing the main Opposition, the SJB, said the absence of funding through the 2026 Budget, coupled with the resignation of the Commission’s maiden Chairperson, Dr. Ramani Jayasundere, is an unfortunate situation that reflects the Government's lack of interest to strengthen the Commission. “During election campaigning, the NPP promised a strong and independent mechanism to advance women’s rights. But, the fact there is no funding for the Commission and the Chairperson resigned because it could not function, are not a good sign. "Referring to the Government’s public campaigns on women’s empowerment, including the Gahanu Eka Mitata initiative, she said the failure to allocate any funds to the Commission was a serious lapse. “When there is no allocation, the Commission’s capacity is automatically limited. That is a major mishap. The former Chairperson is a highly respected figure in the field. Perhaps she also doubted the genuineness of the Government's interest.”

Meanwhile, sources privy to the affairs of the Commission told The Daily Morning that it is particularly concerning that the Commission is currently without a Chairperson and funding. “All that the former Chairperson asked for was an appointment with the President's Secretary, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. That was the simplest request. She tried for nearly four months through letters and phone calls. The Presidential Secretariat should have the decency to give her an appointment and discuss what needed to be done." Sources further stated: “This would not happen to other commissions. We don’t know whether the Government sees commissions as a burden. What is clear is that there is no political will. Some around the President appear to be preventing him from engagement because engaging with the Commission gives it credibility and authority.”

Further, raising concerns about future appointments, sources claimed: "Now, there is one vacancy for a Commissioner to be nominated by the said Caucus. Since the majority of the Caucus consists of NPP members, there is a risk that a politically aligned individual could be nominated."

Sources added the Commissioners were only asking for an independent space to function. “The Women’s Affairs Minister, Saroja Savithri Paulraj has asked them to sit within the Ministry. That cannot work. If a woman complains the Ministry failed to act regarding a complaint, the Commission must question the Ministry. How can that be done if the Commission is sitting inside the Ministry? All that they need is a few rooms somewhere. That would be enough.”

Dr. Jayasundere resigned on 27 January of this year (2026), barely four months after her appointment, citing the Commission’s inability to function as required by the law. Her resignation letter had been addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. According to sources, after the initial appointment letters were issued to the Commissioners in early September of last year (2025), there has been no direct engagement from the Presidential Secretariat, despite repeated attempts by the Chairperson and other Commissioners to contact the President's Secretary and other senior officials.

Established under the Women’s Empowerment Act of 2024, the Commission was intended to operate as an independent statutory body. However, sources claimed earlier that the Government has sought to place it under the Women’s Affairs Ministry, a move that would undermine its independence.

Attempts to contact the Chief of Staff to the President, Minister Ananda Wijepala and Paulraj for comment were unsuccessful.