More than 135 women and women’s organisations have signed a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, demanding urgent action to enable the National Women’s Commission to function effectively.

The letter highlights rising incidents of violence against women in Sri Lanka, including abuse at home, in workplaces, in public spaces, and online. 

It notes that even the Prime Minister has faced sexualised attacks, while activists such as Swasthika Arulingam were recently subjected to verbal abuse online by MP Ramanathan Archchuna.

The signatories state that although members of the Commission have been appointed, it remains inactive, lacking a budget, office space, staff, resources, and even an official seal. 

They further argue that forwarding RTI requests to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs undermines the Commission’s independence and violates its constitutional mandate.

Calling the Commission the result of hard‑fought battles by women, the activists accuse the government of enabling misogyny and sexism by leaving it inoperative. 

They demand that the President allocate sufficient finances, resources, and an independent office space, ensure the Commission’s independence from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and provide a clear timeline for when it will become fully operational. (Newswire)

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