Sri Lanka has now firmly cemented itself in the world arena as a free country for women. Proving that Sri Lankan women can do anything their mind is set on, the Sri Lankan women cricket team secured a stunning victory against the experienced and powerful Indian women’s team this year at the Women’s Asia Cup.
Just as some of our best female athletes Susanthika Jayasinghe had done in the past, it is not a secret that female cricketer Chamari Athapaththu has already created a legendary status around the world by now and her colleagues did the rest by bringing home the Asia Cup.
Sri Lankan Women’s cricket team winning the Asia Cup (Courtesy Internet)
When Adeline Molamure CBE, became the first elected female legislator in then Ceylon in 1931 and entered the Senate in 1947, most countries had not even allowed women the voting rights, let alone entering Parliament. Then came Kusumasiri Gunawardena, current Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s mother, well known for her brave attitude and as a pioneer woman in Sri Lankan politics. When her husband, the ‘Lion of Boralugoda’, Philip Gunawardena was put in detention during the Second World War for rebelling against British imperialists, he escaped from detention in Ceylon to India, and quite unusual to women of her time, Kusumasiri followed him in disguise.
Complete freedom
They were both later arrested by Indian police in 1943. Philip Gunawardena always spoke for the people and fought for the country’s complete freedom and thus became the first politician to be imprisoned for taking part in the 1947 General Strike, and when he was dismissed from Parliament, losing his civic rights for seven years, he was replaced by Kusumasiri, who was elected unopposed in the 1948 by election. She is the second elected female Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka.
She managed to maintain the seat at the elections in 1952, and in 1956 ran for the seat of the Kiriella Electoral District, where she was duly elected. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had said that he first went to Parliament even before he was born, as when his mother was pregnant with him, she not only rebelled for her country, she went to Parliament as one of the first Sri Lankan females politicians.
Sri Lanka’s lioness Vivienne Gunawardena
(Courtesy Internet)
Today’s new generation may not even know about the only woman in our recent history to be named National Hero of Sri Lanka. Vivienne Gunawardena was a lioness of her time, fighting against British imperialists for Indian independence as well as Sri Lankan independence; she became one of the world’s first female ministers. As she tirelessly fought against British colonists and was critical of America’s middle east policy, she had to flee to India to avoid arrest and there she joined the ‘Quit India Movement’, founded by Mahathma Gandhi and fought for our neighbour’s freedom. She not only helped the landslide win of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Vivienne also served as a prominent member of Parliament, and as President of the ‘All Ceylon Local Government Workers’ Union’ from 1949 until her death. Through this, she attempted to reform the former British colony of Ceylon into a Socialist Republic by nationalising organisations in the banking, education, industry, media, and trade sectors that today’s generation enjoys with free services or with benefits.
First female Prime Minister
Sri Lanka producing the world’s first female Prime Minister was a landmark in world politics in 1960, inspiring countless female politicians around the world including Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi. Then came her daughter Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga, who bravely came forward to rise to power during a turbulent time in Sri Lanka’s politics, winning 62 percent of votes in the 1994 Presidential election which is the largest landslide victory in Sri Lanka’s history, after her husband Vijaya Kumarathunga was assassinated. She became the world’s fourth female President and Sri Lanka’s first and only female President to date. In June this year, Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG), selected Sri Lanka to hold their South Asia Regional meeting under the topic of ‘Reinforcing Social Resilience Through Women’s Political Representation’ where Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was the Chief Guest and keynote speaker. Over two-hundred distinguished delegates from Commonwealth countries, especially women leaders from many Commonwealth nations including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Maldives, Bahamas, Caribbean nations, Rwanda and other African nations and Europe were present.
At the event, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said, “Sri Lanka can take pride in its history of gender equality. Our women were granted the right to vote at the same time as men when universal adult franchise was introduced in 1931, and has long been a pioneer in offering women voting rights, leadership opportunities, and equal pay…” And now, we have proven, in sports, careers and especially in women leadership and politics that this tiny nation is an equal match even to the biggest developed nations in the world when it comes to freedom for women.
