Sri Lanka Minister of Women's Affairs fails to field a single candidate in her district nomination list for Provincial Council election

(July 23, 2009 - Lanka Polity) Sri Lanka Minister of Women's Affairs Sumedha G. Jayasena represents Monaragala district, one of the poorest areas of the island.

The district is in the Uva Province and the election for the Provincial Council is to be held on August 08. Although Mrs. Jayasena, a powerful politician in Monaragala district, is the Minister of Women's Affairs the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) nomination list represents no women.

Interestingly enough, the Minister herself is urging for 33% women's representation in parliament.

However, she has fielded several male relations in the UPFA nomination list.

Not only the UPFA, the opposition United National Party (UNP) that speaks progressively about women's rights and the Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) that accepts equality of women have failed to field any female candidate in their nomination lists.