Sri Lanka’s Presidential Manifestos: What’s Promised for Women?
Source: The Diplomat
Sri Lanka is gearing up for its ninth presidential election on September 21, but notably no women candidates are running for the highest office in the country. While having a woman candidate does not necessarily guarantee the prioritization of women’s issues, it is important to consider how the leading contestants plan to address these concerns. With women making up 51.6 percent of the population and 56 percent of registered voters, their votes hold the power to significantly influence the outcome of this election.
A candidate’s manifesto is a reflection of their understanding of the issues faced by their electorate. This analysis looks into the promises made in the manifestoes of the leading candidates – Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Power party, current Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, and current President Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party – specifically regarding issues affecting women and girls. These reflect their respective stances on gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, support for women-headed households, maternal health, and other issues faced by women. However, a close look at their proposals reveals varying degrees of commitment, specificity, and understanding of the issues faced by women.
Read here the full article published by The Diplomat on 6 September 2024.
Image credits: The Diplomat
Sri Lanka is gearing up for its ninth presidential election on September 21, but notably no women candidates are running for the highest office in the country. While having a woman candidate does not necessarily guarantee the prioritization of women’s issues, it is important to consider how the leading contestants plan to address these concerns. With women making up 51.6 percent of the population and 56 percent of registered voters, their votes hold the power to significantly influence the outcome of this election.
A candidate’s manifesto is a reflection of their understanding of the issues faced by their electorate. This analysis looks into the promises made in the manifestoes of the leading candidates – Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Power party, current Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, and current President Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party – specifically regarding issues affecting women and girls. These reflect their respective stances on gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, support for women-headed households, maternal health, and other issues faced by women. However, a close look at their proposals reveals varying degrees of commitment, specificity, and understanding of the issues faced by women.
Read here the full article published by The Diplomat on 6 September 2024.
Image credits: The Diplomat
