By Mewati Sitaram
In a significant step towards enhancing parliamentary-level cooperation and promoting gender inclusion in governance, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, hosted a special reception at India House for the Women’s Caucus of the Sri Lankan Parliament.
The event was attended by prominent Sri Lankan leaders, including Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, alongside several other Members of Parliament from the Women’s Caucus.
Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner Jha highlighted the pivotal role women have played in politics across both India and Sri Lanka, calling the two nations global leaders in championing women’s political representation. He underlined that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has undergone a transformative shift in women’s empowerment over the past decade. With women and children comprising nearly 68 per cent of the population, the concept of Nari Shakti has become central to India’s development narrative — from outer space to village councils.
As part of the growing bilateral cooperation, efforts are underway to deepen institutional linkages between women parliamentarians of both countries. This initiative aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, to promote gender-responsive democratic collaboration.
In a recent milestone, three members of the Sri Lankan Women’s Caucus participated in a training programme at India’s Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) in May 2025. This marked the beginning of structured exchanges designed to foster dialogue, share best practices, and strengthen democratic institutions with a gender-inclusive approach.
With Sri Lanka’s current Parliament having the highest number of women MPs in its history, this collaboration is poised to become a cornerstone of India-Sri Lanka parliamentary engagement.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
