Lanka lauded for protecting women’s rights

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the SLFP Women’s Organisation convention yesterday, stressed that Sri Lanka had garnered international acclaim over the years for its role in protecting women’s rights.

While observing that females got the nod in all spheres, even to reach the highest echelons in the country without any discrimination, he said “the countries who come to advocate us on issues related to women’s rights are still far behind us.”

While noting that the results of a recent survey had amply demonstrated this fact, the President said Sri Lanka was considered as a country which always gave women their due place.

Referring to the inception of the SLFP Women’s Organisation, the President said this was done amidst a lot of hardship.

Since then, the organisation had gone from strength to strength despite difficulties, serving the masses, specially women in numerous spheres in its march forward, the President said.

He said at present the country was waging twin struggles. One against terrorists and the other in the kitchen.

Both were humanitarian missions, the President said while pointing out that there was equal emphasis on both spheres.

“We have not gone into any agreements with the Tigers who are always ready to go to the extent of even launching suicide missions but we have done so with various commercial entities to bring down the Cost of Living,” the President said.

He stressed that the Government had taken steps to grant tax exemptions to a number of goods to bring down prices and also in the future would not leave unturned in its endeavour to address the problem.

Ministers Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and the Secretary of the Organisation Ashoka Lankatilleke also spoke.