Editorial - Tap the full potential of the feminine genius

In the afterglow of Binara Full-moon Poya day which marks the inauguration of the Bhikhuni Sasana, the people and the Government of Sri Lanka need to reflect on the multitude of crises facing women who comprise the majority of our population and who need to play a much bigger role in the political, socio-economic and spiritual dimensions of society.

 One of the major crises for women is the growing trend of domestic violence against them, and rape and sexual harassment of women. One of the recent horrors is the case where a 50-year-old school principal allegedly demanded sexual favours from a young mother who wanted her child admitted to the school. In her desperation the young mother agreed to the principal’s lustful demand but she also had the courage and civic consciousness to inform the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption. When the principal allegedly took the young mother to a notorious hotel room the bribery officials knocked at the door and nabbed the principal, literally with his pants down.

 According to Saroja Paulraj, Convenor of the Women’s Rights movement in Sri Lanka, the domestic violence which was at 60 percent in 2011 has increased to 80 percent this year and Sri Lanka is the 5th among countries that have a high rate of domestic violence against women.

 She said, investigation by the movement revealed that a woman in Sri Lanka was subjected to sexual assault every 90 minutes and that politicians were most often the culprits in this criminality. One of the worst cases which hit the headlines not in Sri Lanka but many parts of the world was the political terror where the ruling party Pradeshiya Sabha chairman, Sampath Vidanapathirana  was alleged to have killed a British Red Cross worker before raping his Russian girl friend on Christmas eve in 2011. Despite DNA evidence the case has dragged on for almost two years drawing sharp protests  from the British Government and damaging Sri Lanka’s image.  Another scandal was the case where a ruling party politician allegedly made a lady teacher kneel in the school premises  before him and her students because she had reprimanded the politico’s daughter for wearing a short dress.

In contrast we saw how fast a New Delhi High court acted to impose the death penalty on four men who raped and killed a 23-year-old Indian medical student. The judge said he was imposing the toughest of penalties to give a message to the country that such criminality against women would not be tolerated, while the Youth for the Nation movement has appealed to the Indian President not to grant  pardon to murderers and rapists.

For tougher actions to be taken, women need to play a much bigger role in the decision making process, specially in the political field. Though Sri Lanka received universal adult franchise and women also got equal voting rights, more than 65 years ago the level of female representation in Parliament, Provincial Councils and other local councils is like a micro mini skirt.

As done in India and other countries, the Government needs to implement legislation for women to get at least 25 percent of the seats in Parliament and Local Councils, so that the full potential of the feminine genius could be brought out for the common good of the country.
We often say, ‘the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,’ but these mere words or clichés must be put into action for our country to be rebuilt on a solid and balanced foundation.