National Commission on Women highlights operational needs with Speaker

The Chairperson and Commissioners of the National Commission on Women (NCW) met with The Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, on June 24 (Wednesday) at the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The Chairperson, Grace Asirwatham, briefed The Speaker on the progress made thus far in operationalising the Commission. During the meeting, the Chairperson and Commissioners also highlighted several challenges currently faced in making the Commission fully operational, including the inadequacy of the office space presently allocated to the Commission considering its broad mandate and approved staff cadre. The Chairperson emphasised that adequate office facilities are essential to ensure accessibility, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and strengthen the Commission’s ability to effectively serve women across Sri Lanka. The Speaker acknowledged the importance of the National Commission on Women and its mandate to advance and protect the rights of women and assured the Commission that the concerns raised would receive due consideration.