Former female Parliamentarians were felicitated during a special felicitation Programme organized by Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, held today (07) in Parliament in line with the International Women’s Day 2024.

The event was held under the patronage of Speaker – Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and several dignitaries including Prime Minister – Dinesh Gunawardena, Leader of the Opposition – Sajith Premadasa, Chair of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle and Acting Secretary General of Parliament – Mr. Chaminda Kularatne participated in this event.

The program was organized under the theme “Equity and equality for her”.

At the outset of the program one minute of silence was observed in memory of all the former female MPs who are no longer alive. After that, the official badge of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus was launched and the members of the caucus explained the meaning of the official badge.

After that, former and present female Members of Parliament were felicitated including late Sirima R. D Bandaranaike, the first female Prime Minister of the world, and the first female President of Sri Lanka – Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The official badge of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus was pinned and the official membership card of the caucus was also presented to the former female Parliamentarians who were present in the event.

Following the program, a special photo wall created in the Parliament complex, with the photographs of all the women MPs since 1931, was unveiled by the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The program was organized with the support and cooperation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Members of Parliament, relatives of former female Members of Parliament, and parliamentary staff members were present on this occasion.