Government funds were not used for the study visit of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to New Zealand, the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera clarified.
Issuing a statement, the Secretary-General pointed out that this study visit was organized with the support of development partners without using government funds for about two and a half years.
She further mentioned that the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, plays a major role in addressing the socio-economic and political issues of women in the country, and it will be helpful to gain experience from the developed countries of the Commonwealth in order to perform those tasks more efficiently.
The Secretary-General pointed out that although the members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus represent different political parties, they stand up for the common goals of the caucus and work together under the leadership of its Chairperson, MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle.
Meanwhile, during its visit to New Zealand, the Sri Lankan Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus requested the Sri Lankan community living in New Zealand to contribute to helping the economic crisis that Sri Lanka is currently facing.
This request was made when a meeting was held in Auckland recently (July 28) between the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the Sri Lankan community living in New Zealand.
Addressing the occasion, the Chair of the Sri Lanka Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said that the motherland should be supported to get out of the difficult situation faced by her at the moment. Commenting on the actions taken by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Parliament of Sri Lanka, the Chair said that although her Caucus consists of women parliamentarians representing different parties, they stand together for common goals.
Vanushi Walters of Sri Lankan origin representing the New Zealand Parliament was also present on this occasion and she expressed her delight regarding choosing New Zealand for this trip. Walters also stated that the existence of a parliamentary system with more favourable structures and spaces for women’s political representation in New Zealand would allow for a better understanding of women’s political activities in the Sri Lankan context and will enable the female parliamentarians to establish the same good practices back in their homeland.
Addressing the Sri Lankan community living in New Zealand, Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi requested that the motherland needs the support of Sri Lankans living all over the world at this hour. Vice Chair of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna requested to contribute to making more investments in Sri Lanka.
MPs Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, (Dr.)Seetha Arambepola, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Geetha Samanmale Kumarasinghe, Thalatha Athukorala, Kokila Gunawardena, Muditha Prishanthi, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, Assistant Director (Administration) Indira Dissanayake and Manager Media of Parliament Nimmi Hathiyaldeniya were present at this tour.
The study tour was organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) with the full support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on behalf of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)
