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At the Women’s Forum ‘A programme for Progress’ at the Galle Face Hotel yesterday (13), President Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined a transformative vision for Sri Lanka's future, focusing on modernizing the economy, empowering women, and implementing social justice reforms. He emphasized the need to move beyond the out-dated political systems and embrace a more export-driven, digital, and green economy, while also addressing critical social issues like gender equality and overcoming class and caste bias.
President Wickremesinghe's remarks come at a pivotal time for Sri Lanka, as the country continues to recover from the economic and political crises exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking directly to entrepreneurs and small business owners, he laid out a framework for significant changes, promising a focus on women's empowerment, social justice, and opportunities in a revamped economy. He urged the public to support his initiatives in the upcoming vote, symbolized by the gas cylinder on September 21.
“It's an interesting time, certainly listening to your concerns, which also showed me that many of you are involved in self-employment, as well as in small and medium-sized enterprises.
That's good. Now we have to see how we can encourage you to move forward after resolving the issues that have arisen from the recent economic crisis. COVID-19 itself has been a problem for many people involved in small and medium enterprises, and in our case, it was made worse by the economic crisis. The economic and political crises that followed, due to the inability of any leaders to assume responsibility for governing the country, showed a complete breakdown. We now need to put the social structures back in place.
We have to think differently; don’t assume we can rely on the old system. That’s the difference between me and the other candidates—they want to restore the old system, but you can’t. The party system is broken, and it’s not going to come back as it was. So we are looking at far-reaching changes—virtually a revolution—in the social sphere and in the country itself. Economically, we will move towards an export-oriented economy, a digital economy, a green economy, with an emphasis on modernizing agriculture and increasing self-employment. These changes will also create opportunities for women to participate.
On the social side, we will focus on two major areas. First is women's empowerment, starting with the Women's Empowerment Act. We will also introduce the Gender Equality Bill, which aims to ensure equality between men and women, and nothing more. It will ensure that people of all genders are treated equally by the government. I am still committed to ensuring justice for women in how both male and female genders are addressed.
Regarding women's empowerment and equality, the key question is: How do we expand these, and what roles are we going to play? We must not only talk about women in politics, but also about women in business and management. What is the ratio? In Sri Lanka, we still haven’t established the necessary gender ratios. The second focus will be the establishment of a Social Justice Commission.
This will be another law to promote social justice. We need to overcome the existing biases based on class, caste, and other issues. If we do this, we will ensure a fairer society and greater representation of women at various levels. We are talking about political agencies—what about boards of directors? What about other agencies? We need to look at this in a broad way, and next year, women’s organizations will have the opportunity to meet and formulate a master plan for women’s empowerment in Sri Lanka.
Thank you very much for your patience in listening to me, and remember the gas cylinder on September 21st.”
I stand here in support of President Ranil Wickremesinghe because I have witnessed first-hand the positive changes he has brought about over the past two years. I am confident that you, the women gathered here, share this confidence and will support his re-election to the presidency based on his achievements.
In the last two years, while much attention has been given to the provision of essential goods like gas, fuel, food, and medicine, there has been less focus on the significant relief programs for women, such as “Aswesuma” and “Urumaya”. These initiatives have provided crucial support to women across the country. As part of the Parliamentary Women's Forum, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with President Wickremesinghe on these important issues. He has been attentive to our suggestions, creating a supportive environment for the Women's Forum to advance women's welfare.
Under his leadership, numerous initiatives have been implemented, including providing loans for women to start businesses and offering concessions for pawned jewellery. Additionally, the development of infrastructure in rural areas has had a positive impact on women and their families throughout the island.
Above all, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has made significant strides in addressing violence against women by establishing dedicated units in police stations across the country. He has also ensured the recruitment of female police officers specifically for this purpose. This initiative not only creates job opportunities but also ensures that women can seek legal protection without compromising their privacy. The measures taken by President Wickremesinghe, particularly through the Women's Empowerment Act, represent a major victory for women.
Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe, former Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake, and many other women who have supported these important changes were also present.
“Honourable Sir, your actions have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of gender equity and the invaluable contributions women make to society. This comes as no surprise, given that you have been surrounded by remarkable women throughout your life.
Your late mother, Mrs. Nalini Wickremesinghe, was a trailblazer in her career as a media and press personality. Your wife, Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe, who graces us with her presence today, is a highly respected intellectual and a distinguished figure in Sri Lanka’s academic world, as well as one of the finest First Ladies our country has ever known. We must also acknowledge Miss Shanika Wickremesinghe, the force behind this beautiful evening, who has significantly contributed to women’s employment and empowerment advocacy.
Throughout your career, you have been a steadfast champion for Sri Lanka's nearly 11 million women. Your unwavering commitment to honouring, defending, and leading them, particularly during difficult times, has been evident. When you assumed the leadership in 2022, your passion was clear as you repeatedly emphasized your desire to eliminate the uncertainties faced by millions of Sri Lankan mothers—and you succeeded.
Women have long memories, and they will not forget what you accomplished in 2022. Forgive my bias, but I am confident that the women of Sri Lanka will express their gratitude to the President in the upcoming elections.”
