Sri Lanka: a citizen’s forum

Indika Manel, Padma Wathi, D. M. Nandawathie and Nandani Rajapaksa are all members of a citizen forum in Sri Lanka.

It’s a forum run by our partner, UCDC (Uva Community Development Centre) which provides support for less privileged people to solve their financial, social, and political, problems, as well as cultural and environmental issues.

In particular the UCDC help Sri Lankan women get the same treatment, rights and opportunities as men.

Politics in Sri Lanka are dominated by men. It’s a big challenge for women to get elected into government positions because they have such limited political and economic power.

The citizen forums are a space for women to have their say on local issues and help to shape the political agenda. Now Indika, Padma, D.M. and Nandani have found their political voice, and are determined to further the position of women in Sri Lankan government.

Alongside their political and economical engagements these strong women are still running their households. “It’s not easy,” they tell us. “Some of us don’t get support from our husbands to participate in the committee and we all have to balance this work alongside our family commitments. In order to make sure we have time to fully participate, we have to get up early in the morning to carry out our other duties.”

But it’s work they all feel passionately is vital. “We’ve chosen to participate in a local citizens’ committee to better understand how the decisions are made that affect our lives,” they say, “we participate to make sure that women are heard by those who make those decisions.”