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Journalism of Courage
Sri Lanka is the home of the world’s first woman PM, but a glance at the candidate list for its election reveals a glaring shortage of women. Nearly 45 years after Sirimavo Bandaranaike took power after the assassination of her PM husband and led her party through four turbulent decades, the island has seen little trickle-down effect from her example. Women formed less than 5 per cent of the outgoing Parliament, and when Lankans go to polls on Friday there will be just 22 women in more than 500 candidates.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga — Bandaranaike’s daughter — has twice been elected President and wields tremendous power as leader of the UPFA. But Kumari Jayawardene, secretary of Sri Lanka’s Social Scientists Association, said the legacy of women leaders from the island’s most powerful political family had not changed the status of women in politics. ‘‘There’s a difference between dynastic leadership and women at the top. If you’re in a political family it is much easier, she said. Many feel women are unsuited to the violent and cut-throat nature of Sri Lankan politics, but ironically it may be the Tamil Tiger rebels who are doing the most to change their status. The Tigers have openly endorsed a political party, the TNA, and the LTTE has made a point of fielding a woman candidate in each of the five districts the party is contesting. —(Reuters)
