This year’s general election has seen a significant achievement with the election of more than 20 women to the new Parliament of Sri Lanka. This is an important milestone for female political representation in the country, and most of these women have been elected under the National People’s Power (NPP) party.
Notably, prominent figures like Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the Prime Ministerial candidate, and Kaushalya Ariyaratne, have been elected from the Colombo district list of NPP. Other women elected from NPP include Samanmalee Gunasinghe, who represents Colombo, Ambiga Samuel from Badulla, and Nilanthi Kottahachige, Oshani Umanga from the Kalutara district. Additionally, Saroja Polyage represents Matara, Nilusha Gamage is from Ratnapura, and Sagarika Atauda was elected from the Kegalle district list of National Jana Balawega. Other NPP candidates include Hiruni Wijesinghe (Puttalam), Chaturi Gangani (Monaragala), Thushari Jayasinghe (Kandy), Hazara Liyanage (Galle), and Deepti Vasala (Matale).
The Samagi Jana Balavega (SJB) also saw women elected, including Chamindrani Kiriella, daughter of former minister Lakshman Kiriella, who was elected from the Kandy district list. Former MP Rohini Kumari Wijeratne was also elected from the Matale district list.
The National People’s Force has yet to announce its national list members, but it is expected that three women will be included in this list, further boosting female representation in the new parliament.
The election results signify a growing trend of female participation in Sri Lanka’s political landscape, signaling potential for greater gender equality in the country’s governance.
