The event was attended by many, including Parliamentarians Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Dr. Bandula Gunawardane and Dr. Charitha Herath
- Eight women from diverse backgrounds share their plans if they were to lead the country
A joint event organised by NextGenSL and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in commemoration of International Women’s Day was held last week, giving eight women the opportunity to share their plans for the country if they were to lead Sri Lanka. The event was the third chapter of iLead, and featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and industries. They were given eight minutes to share their vision in rebuilding Sri Lanka’s future.
The organisers
Giving the audience a better idea of the organising parties behind iLead were Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Head Wolfgang Heinze and NextGenSL Co-convenor Milinda Rajapaksha.
Heinze explained that the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is a German foundation with a presence in more than 60 countries. They have been working in Sri Lanka for the last five decades. Speaking about the previous two chapters of iLead, he said that some of the topics may come across as women’s topics. However, they concern society in general.
“When we look at International Women’s Day or International Women’s Month, when you talk about the pride of women, you get a feeling that some men might be a bit insecure and there may be the thought that the rise of women will mean the fall of men, but that’s not the case. I sincerely believe the rise of women is not the fall of men. It’s the rise of society as a whole,” Heinze said.
Meanwhile, Rajapaksha shared that the objective of NextGenSL was to debate the topics the members, who represent various political parties and ideologies, do not agree on, and work together on those they do agree on.
“We know that given the country’s economy, it is tough being a woman. And even tougher being a woman in politics,” he said, adding that Sri Lanka’s female population is 52%, while 56% of voters are women. “And yet, we have only a handful of female Parliamentarians,” he said, setting the stage for the speakers.
Three statistics
Hemas Consumer Brands Managing Director Sabrina Esufally began by giving a brief introduction to Hemas, which her great grandfather established almost 75 years ago to create products that would empower families to live a better quality of life. “One of the greatest joys of my job is that I get to travel around the country speaking to consumers, largely women, because most of our products are bought by women. I get to listen to them about what they would like from their lives, what problems they have, and I also get a glimpse into systemic issues.”
She spoke about her plan for rebuilding the country as a leader with the use of three numbers: 6%, 37% and 527. The first number 6% referred to the percentage of expenditure we spend on education as a percentage of Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product, which she said should be increased, along with Sri Lanka’s 37% female labour force participation. “In a period where we see sluggish economic growth, helping to integrate 50% of our population into the workforce is not just something nice to have for the sake of gender equality but it’s an economic necessity.”
The final number, 527, referred to the number of State-owned enterprises in the country, which she said needs to be reduced.
Empowering disabled communities
Representing the disabled community was Sri Lanka Central Federation of the Deaf Vice President Suhani Kariyawasam Pathirana, who said that as a deaf woman, her disability was not visible. “It’s only when talking to me that you will realise my disability. But since my childhood, I have been deaf. Both my sister and I are deaf. As deaf kids, we didn’t get an opportunity to mingle with other children.”
Pathirana shed light on a key issue faced by disabled persons, especially when it comes to education, saying that if she was the leader of the country, she would ensure that disabled kids have access to a good education just like other kids do.
“We know that a good education is vital for future success,” she said, adding that she would also address the sympathy or pity people feel towards disabled persons and ensure that the disabled community too, can partake in the country's development.
Women’s sports
Shedding light on women’s sports in the country was Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team Vice Captain Oshadhi Ranasinghe, who said that if she was to become the leader of the country, she would start with sports.
“That’s where my understanding lies. I will exert every effort to promote women’s cricket in Sri Lanka because the reputation of women’s cricket in the world is in the highest standard right now,” Ranasinghe said, speaking about the need to improve school sports in the country, and establish a sound structure for athletes can make it to the national and international levels.
She said there was also a need for women’s sports to get the same recognition as men’s sports, as well as a long-term strategy, which would not only look at training, screening, and experience for female athletes, but also opportunities once they retire from sports.
Gender minorities
National Transgender Network Executive Director Bhoomi Harendran started off by saying that there are limited spaces for biological women to make decisions. “As someone who “officially” joined the female population recently, the utopia where I would get a place in the political sphere is something I will talk about from my reality,” she said, adding that special treatment is in itself a discrimination.
Harendran shared that if she were to lead the country, she would introduce rules and policies that protect equality, which was important especially because this will help us reduce brain drain.
“Not just gender minorities like us but a lot of other minority groups in Sri Lanka find that their biggest support is the Human Rights Commission. Having an independent Human Rights Commission is the biggest space for us to escape from oppression and violence in some way. If I ever have the power to do so, I would improve the Human Rights Commission to be even more independent and powerful,” she said.
Harendran added that while the Transgender Protection Bill will be enacted before she can come into power, if she were to lead the country, she would fast-track the process.
Reproductive health
“In Sri Lanka, women are a vital part of the society and the economy, but only sometimes recognised for their contribution. In our biggest industries, women are the mainstay of the workforce, from the leaf pluckers of Ceylon tea to the seamstresses in the garment trade to women who bolster our economy by sending home wages from domestic work in the middle east. The economy of Sri Lanka would be hard up if it wasn’t for the hard work of our women,” Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr. Shemoon Marleen said.
She went on to say that considering this, one would think women would be thus given access to basic services. “Women are the group that is most likely to be ostracised by the medical system. This has, and will continue to, significantly impact our country unless things change.”
Dr. Marleen said that if she were to lead the country, she would start with fair reproductive healthcare for women, an issue she looks at from her perspective as a professional in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology and as a mother of two teenage girls.
Importance of education
Given her background in the field of education, University of Visual and Performing Arts Deputy Registrar Chani Imbulgoda said that she would address trivial issues in the country through proper education, as well as the proper development of systems, a change of mind-sets, and by learning from the past.
“Developed countries today have passed more difficult periods than ours. The Second World War reduced Japan to dust but today they are developed. Singapore was a slum city, but it’s a global city today. Germany was divided but they are now united and strong,” she said, adding that under her regime, she would not let trivial things go unattended. “I will take every possible action to stop those trivial things from becoming cancerous.”
Imbulgoda also spoke about the importance of developing not just Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEP), but also the arts, philosophy, history and so on.
Working woman
Brandix General Manager Human Resources Dinusha Jayamanne started her speech by asking the audience the size of the apparel industry in the world. She said it was sizable, at $ 1.3 trillion.
“In Sri Lanka, it’s about $ 5.3 billion, which is 47% of the total export merchandise of the country, placing it in quite an important light given the current economic turndown,” Jayamanne said, adding that there are 350,000 employees across the industry, of which 78% are female.
“If I was given the chance to lead the country, the apparel industry would be a focal point. Secondly, the enablement of the females who work in this industry will be a point of attention given the current situation,” she said.
Jayamanne explained that she would focus on four points: The growth of women, especially in leadership roles; the digital gender gap and improving the country’s technology quotient; financial stability; and the wellbeing of women, especially within changing dynamics in industries.
Reconciliation through language
Actress and media personality Niranjani Shanmugaraja said that when talking about women in leadership positions, there is a fear on the woman’s part, but that this was a good type of fear, as holding positions of responsibility and carrying out these duties properly should cause fear in one.
“Women think this fear they have is a weakness. But no, this fear is the biggest plus point of women. We must recognise this. And how our fear should be used for our victory. Since this fear comes naturally to women, women should be given leadership roles without fear because they will carry out their duties because of that fear,” Shanmugaraja said.
She went on to say that we tend to think politics is key in the development of a country, but that law, education, health, arts, and sports are important.
“Reconciliation or coexistence cannot be achieved by mere words or pledges. The most important thing in the world, the most important word is action. Reconciliation or co-existence can only be built through action. One of the biggest barriers to this is language,” she said, adding that communities should be encouraged to learn both Sinhala and Tamil.