Sri Lankan Parliamentarians forum engaged in a study tour were warmly welcomed recently (1) by New Zealand parliamentarians. Sri Lanka Latest News
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament announced to the Parliament that the Chairperson of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, Dr. Sudarshanee Fernandopulle, and the group will be warmly welcomed. Members of the Sri Lanka Parliamentarians’ Forum gathered to watch the parliamentary meeting from the special gallery of the Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament. There, all New Zealand MPs rose from their seats and applauded the Sri Lankan MPs.
The Forum of Sri Lankan Parliamentarians who came to the Parliament of New Zealand was welcomed by a group of MPs including the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Mr. Greg O’Connor singing blessing songs according to the Māori culture of New Zealand.
The Sri Lankan delegation then engaged in a special discussion with the Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament, Adrian Rurawe, Deputy Speaker Greg O’Connor and Assistant Speaker Jackie Dean.
During this study tour, there was a special meeting between the General Secretary of the Parliament of New Zealand, Mr. David Wilson and the General Secretary of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, and members of the parliamentary staff, and there was a long discussion about the functioning of the parliaments of the two countries.
Also New Zealand Parliamentary Services Head Rafael Gonzalez, the country’s Minister for Women and Education Minister Jan Tinetti, Community and Voluntary Sectors Minister Priyanka Radhakrishnan, Labor Party President Jill Day, the country’s Women’s Deputy President Carol Beaumont, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Group, Vanushi Walters and other Labor Party members. Sri Lankan MPs also had the opportunity to engage in discussions with a group of gentlemen including members.
Members of the Sri Lanka Women’s Parliamentarian Forum were able to participate live in the New Zealand Parliament’s Social Services and Community Standing Committee and gain experience there and participate in interviews recorded by the New Zealand Parliament’s Communications Team.
A sightseeing tour of the New Zealand Parliament was also organized for the Forum of Sri Lankan Women Parliamentarians. On this study tour, the members of the Council of Women MPs Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Dr. Seetha Arambepola, Dr. Rohini Kumari Wijeratne, (Lawyer) Pavitradevi Vanniarachchi, Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasinghe, (Lawyer) Talatha Athukorala, Kokila Gunawardena, Mudita Prishanthi, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Man Jula Dissanayake, ( Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya as well as General Secretary of the Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, Assistant Director (Administration) Indira Dissanayake and the Media Manager of the Parliament Nimmi Hathialdeniya participated.
This study tour is with the full support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Institute of Democracy with the aim of empowering women’s leadership in the politics of Sri Lanka, securing gender equality as well as strengthening the measures taken by the Forum of Women Parliamentarians for the advancement of Sri Lankan women. Organized by (NDI).
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa says that a committee has been appointed to look into allegations of sexual harassment of women and young girls in the Housekeeping Department of the Parliament.
In response to a question raised by Member of Parliament Ms. Rohini Kumari Wijeratne, the Deputy Speaker said that a three-member committee had been appointed to investigate the matter.
