September 11, 2017: Women’s Chamber of Industries and Commerce (WCIC) and SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneur Council (SCWEC) Chairperson, Rifa Mustapha congratulated the government on its progressive legislation to bring a minimum quota of women to fill the seats of Local Government Councils in future.
She opined that this was a timely move and a step in the right direction in relation to achieving equality for women which is imperative in steering Sri Lanka towards becoming an economically prosperous nation.
“Although the country’s female population is about 52% their representation in local bodies is less than 2% – a shockingly low rate for a country which boasts to have had the first female Premier in the world,” she noted.
She added: “This is a welcome move and we believe this will be the first step in increasing women’s participation in important leadership and decision-making roles in the country.”