Women in the Sri Lankan Parliament

Adeline Molamure
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Chandrika Kumaratunga

Women have served in the Parliament of Sri Lanka since 1931 and have been represented in all successive parliaments to date. The first woman representative was Adeline Molamure, elected to the State Council, daughter of J. H. Meedeniya and wife of Alfred Francis Molamure, both State Councillors. 60 women have served in the legislature of Sri Lanka, including 13 who are currently serving, constituting over 5% of all current Members.

Women in Parliament, however small in numbers, have held high positions in Parliament and the cabinet. Two women have become Prime Minister and one has gone on to become the President of Sri Lanka. Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first female head of government on 21 July 1960, holding the post for a non-consecutive 17 years. Her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, became Sri Lanka's first modern female head of state and president.[1]

This marked the first time that a female prime minister directly succeeded another female prime minister, and is also the first time that a nation possessed a female prime minister and a female president simultaneously.

The progress of women in Sri Lankan politics, however, has stagnated as expectations are higher for their representation in Parliament.[2]

Number of women

Number of women in Parliament by House

Number of women in the Sri Lankan Parliament (1931–2024):

# Legislature Years in Parliament % in House % in Senate %
1st Ceylonese State Council 1931–1936 2 3.4% 2 3.4% - -
2nd Ceylonese State Council 1936–1947 1 1.7% 1 1.7% - -
3rd Ceylonese Parliament 1947–1952 1 ?% 3 2.9% 4 ?%
4th Ceylonese Parliament 1952–1956 ? ?% 2 1.9% ? ?%
5th Ceylonese Parliament 1956–1959 ? ?% 4 3.9% ? ?%
6th Ceylonese Parliament 1960–1960 ? ?% 3 2.9% ? ?%
7th Ceylonese Parliament 1960–1964 ? ?% 3 2.9% ? ?%
8th Ceylonese Parliament 1965–1970 ? ?% 6 5.9% ? ?%
9th Ceylonese Parliament 1970–1972 ? ?% 6 3.8% ? ?%
10th National State Assembly 1972–1977 6 3.6% 6 3.6% - -
11th National State Assembly 1977–1978 11 6.5% 11 6.5% - -
12th Sri Lankan Parliament 1978–1988 11 4.8% 11 4.8% - -
13th Sri Lankan Parliament 1989–1994 13 5.7% 13 5.7% - -
14th Sri Lankan Parliament 1994–2000 12 5.3% 12 5.3% - -
15th Sri Lankan Parliament 2000–2001 9 4% 9 4% - -
16th Sri Lankan Parliament 2001–2004 10 4.4% 10 4.4% - -
17th Sri Lankan Parliament 2004–2010 13 5.7% 13 5.7% - -
18th Sri Lankan Parliament 2010–2015 13 5.7% 13 5.7% - -
19th Sri Lankan Parliament 2015–2020 13 5.7% 13 5.7% - -
20th Sri Lankan Parliament 2020–2024 12 5.3% 12 5.3% - -
21st Sri Lankan Parliament 2024–2028 23 10.2% 23 10.2%

List of female members

This is a complete list of women who have served as members of the successive Sri Lankan Legislatures, ordered by seniority. This list includes women who served in the past and who continue to serve in the present.[3]

Service

Representative Party Electorate Years Notes
Adeline Molamure - Ruwanwella June, 1931-
7 December 1935 		Elected in by-election
First woman to be elected to the State Council of Ceylon (first elected female legislator)
Naysum Saravanamuttu - Colombo North June, 1931-
4 July 1947 		Second woman to be elected to the State Council
Florence Senanayake Lanka Sama Samaja Party Kiriella September, 1947-
8 April 1952 		First female to be elected to Parliament
Cissy Cooray - - 1947-1952 First female to be appointed to the Senate of Ceylon
Kusumasiri Gunawardena Lanka Sama Samaja Party Avissawella 1948-
18 February 1956 		Second female to be elected to Parliament
Elected unopposed in by-election
Viplavakari Lanka Sama Samaja Party Kiriella April, 1956-
5 December 1959
Tamara Kumari Ilangaratne Independent Kandy June, 1949-
8 April 1952 		Third female to be elected to Parliament
Elected in by-election
Sri Lanka Freedom Party Galagedara 27 May 1970-
18 May 1977
Doreen Wickremasinghe Communist Party of Ceylon Akuressa May, 1952-
18 February 1956
Clodagh Jayasuriya United National Party - October 1953 - 1956 Elected to the Senate of Ceylon
Vivienne Goonewardena Lanka Sama Samaja Party Colombo North April, 1956-
5 December 1959
Borella 20 July 1960-
17 December 1964 		Elected in by-election
Dehiwala - Mt. Lavinia 27 May 1970-
18 May 1977
Vimala Wijewardene Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mirigama April, 1956-
5 December 1959 		First female cabinet minister
Kusuma Rajaratne Independent Welimada September 1957-
5 December 1959 		Elected in by-election
Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna Uva-Paranagama 19 March 1960-
25 March 1970
Evelyn de Soysa - - April 1959-1963 Appointed member of the Senate of Ceylon
Wimala Kannangara United National Party Galigamuwa 19 March 1960-
23 April 1960
22 March 1965-
25 March 1970
21 July 1977-
20 December 1988
Soma Wickremanayake Lanka Sama Samaja Party Dehiowita 19 March 1960-
17 December 1964
Sirimavo Bandaranaike Sri Lanka Freedom Party Attanagalla 22 March 1965-
20 December 1988 		Elected to the office of Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 21 July 1960, 29 May 1970, 22 May 1972 and 14 November 1994.
Gampaha 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
National List 16 August 1994-
18 August 2000
Sivagamie Obeyesekere Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mirigama 22 March 1965-
18 May 1977
Leticia Rajapaksa Sri Lanka Freedom Party Dodangaslanda 22 March 1965-
25 March 1970 		Elected in by-election
Mallika Ratwatte Sri Lanka Freedom Party Balangoda 22 March 1965-
18 May 1977 		Elected in by-election
Seetha Seneviratne United National Party - October 1967-
April 1970 		Appointed member of the Senate of Ceylon (daughter of Adeline Molamure)
Kusala Abhayavardhana Lanka Sama Samaja Party Borella 27 May 1970-
18 May 1977
Renuka Herath United National Party Walapane 21 July 1977-
20 December 1988
Nuwara Eliya 15 February 1989-
18 August 2000
Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake United National Party Wariyapola 21 July 1977-
20 December 1988
Kurunegala 15 February 1989-
9 February 2010
Sunethra Ranasinghe - Dehiwala - Mount Lavinia 21 July 1977-
20 December 1988 		Elected in by-election
United National Party Colombo 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
Rupa Sriyani Daniel United National Party Hewaheta 21 July 1977-
20 December 1988 		Nominated
National List 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
Ranganayaki Pathmanathan - Pottuvil 21 July 1977-
20 December 1988 		Nominated
Daya Sepali Senadheera - Karandeniya 21 July 1977-
20 December 1988 		Nominated and succeeded seat vacated by the death of her husband Bandulahewa Senadheera. Assassinated by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.
Lohini Wijesiri - Harispattuwa 21 July 1977-
20 December 1988 		Nominated
Keerthilatha Abeywickrema - Deniyaya 21 July 1977-
20 December 1988 		Nominated
Samantha Karunaratne - Rambukkana 21 July 1977-
20 December 1988 		Nominated
United National Party Kegalle 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
Sumitha Priyangeni Abeyweera Sri Lanka Freedom Party Kalutara 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
Sujatha Dharmawardana United National Party Puttalam 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
Sumedha G. Jayasena Sri Lanka Freedom Party Monaragala 15 February 1989-
Chandra Karunaratne United National Party Badulla 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
Rasamanohari Pulendran United National Party Vanni 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
Hema Ratnayake Sri Lanka Freedom Party Badulla 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
United National Party 16 August 1994-
18 August 2000
Daya Amarakeerthi Sri Lanka Freedom Party Galle 15 February 1989-
24 June 1994
Chandrika Kumaratunga People's Alliance Gampaha 16 August 1994-
18 August 2000 		Elected to the office of Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 19 August 1994, then President of Sri Lanka on 12 November 1994.
Sumitha Priyangani Abeyweera People's Alliance Kalutara 16 August 1994-
18 August 2000
Nirupama Rajapaksa People's Alliance Hambantota 16 August 1994-
18 August 2000
United People's Freedom Alliance 2 April 2004-
9 February 2010
Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi People's Alliance Ratnapura 16 August 1994-
7 February 2004
Srimanee Athulathmudali People's Alliance Colombo 16 August 1994-
18 August 2000
Amara Badra Dissanayake United National Party National List 16 August 1994-
18 August 2000
Ferial Ashraff People's Alliance Digamadulla 10 October 2000-
7 February 2004
United People's Freedom Alliance 2 April 2004-
9 February 2010
Surangani Ellawala People's Alliance Ratnapura 10 October 2000-
10 October 2001
Somakumari Tennakoon People's Alliance Kurunegala 10 October 2000-
7 February 2004
Yvonne Sriyani Fernando People's Alliance Puttalam 10 October 2000-
10 October 2001
Chandrani Bandara Jayasinghe United National Party Anuradhapura 10 October 2000-
A. R. Anjan Umma Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna National List 10 October 2000-
10 October 2001
Gampaha 5 December 2001-
7 February 2004
Larine Perera United National Party Puttalam 5 December 2001-
9 February 2010
Mallika de Mel PA Matara 5 December 2001-
7 February 2004
Chitra Srimathi Mantilake United National Party Kandy 5 December 2001-
7 February 2004
Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi United People's Freedom Alliance Ratnapura 2 April 2004-
Sujatha Alahakoon United People's Freedom Alliance Matale 2 April 2004-
9 February 2010
Thalatha Atukorale United National Party Ratnapura 2 April 2004-
Pathmini Sithamparanathan Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi Jaffna 2 April 2004-
9 February 2010
Thangeswary Kathiraman Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi Batticaloa 2 April 2004-
9 February 2010
Sudarshani Fernandopulle United People's Freedom Alliance Gampaha April 2010-
Sriyani Wijewickrama United People's Freedom Alliance Digamadulla April 2010-
Rosy Senanayake United National Party Colombo April 2010-
Upeksha Swarnamali United National Party Gampaha April 2010-
Vijayakala Maheswaran United National Party Jaffna April 2010-
Malani Fonseka United People's Freedom Alliance National List April 2010-
Kamala Ranathunga United People's Freedom Alliance National List April 2010-
Anoma Gamage United National Party National List April 2010-
Rohini Kumari Wijeratne-Kaviratne United National Party Lagalla April 2015-

See also

References

  1. ^ "Profile: Chandrika Kumaratunga". BBC. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  2. ^ Bhattacharjya, Satarupa. "Just 10 women in Parliament – a disappointing showing". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Lady Members". Parliament.lk. Retrieved 2 August 2013.

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