Call to increase number of women MPs in Parliament
By Lal Gunasekara / The Island News Paper – Thursday 18th February 2010,
http://www.island.lk/2010/02/18/news27.html
Women representating many political parties came to together co- ordinate by the women and Media Collective with one voice to increasing the number of women representation at local, provincial and national levels and have to at least two women from each district in any political party’s nomination for the April 8 Parliamentary elections. 
About 18 womens organization in the country from even the North and East came under one banner yesterday at Hotel Renuka, to Voice out that there must be more women actively involved in political and nominated for elections.
Western provincial Councilor, Ashoka Lankathilake said that there were 52 per cent of women in the country and 56 per cent voters. She requested all parties to give nominations to more women, who are successful in many spheres and with a proven track record. She said: Give at least one preferential vote for woman.
Shanthi Sachithianandan leader of the newly formed People’s Rights Party (formed in North East ), said that women are in the fore front of community work , and 56 per cent graduates who pass out from universities are women. She said: They should be in the political scene and I humbly appeal to change the political culture in this country and bring in women who have worked for the party and not parachutists.
Rosy Senanayake (Leader of the Opposition, Western Provincial councilor),
too request at least one preferential vote for women and for two women to contest from each district from a party.
Shanthini Kongahage of the Central Provincial Council echoed the same sentiments and wanted more women to be represented from Pradeshiya Sabha level.
It was revealed that only six per cent of women are in Parliament compared to 94 per cent of men, while at Provincial level, only two per cent was women compared to 98 per cent men.
Among the other who spoke were Upulangani Malagamuwa from Kurunegal , Chandrika de Soyza from Maharagama Municipal Council and Selma Hansa representating the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.
Viola Perera was the moderator, while Kumuduni Samual (Joint Director, Women and women and Media Collective) gave the introductory speech.
