Government officials check a list to see who receives a gas cylinder, check or and self-employment assistance at the event held in Sri Lanka's north. (Photo by Niranjani Roland)
The Sri Lanka's Women Parliamentarians' Caucus traveled to former war-torn Kilinochchi in the island nation's north to speak to women about post-war issues but only met five out of more than 500 attendees.
Tamil women traveled from neighboring regions for the event held March 22 in a hall in that was part of an International Women's Day program. The event was meant to be about the Tamil women sharing their problems with the parliamentarians but only five got the opportunity leaving the rest frustrated.
Chandrani Bandara, minister of women and child affairs, said it was a fact-finding mission to this former Tamil Tiger stronghold.
"Women struggle to make a living so members of the caucus decided to give them an opportunity to meet female parliamentarians," she said at the event at the co-operative hall in Kilinochchi March 22.
"My ministry requested more money and the treasury allocated 25 percent of the annual investment for economic activities of rural women in all the districts," said Bandara, president of the caucus.
Parliamentarian Shanthy Sriskantharajah handing over a gas cylinder to a beneficiary at the event at Kilinochchi on March 22. (Photo by Niranjani Roland)
The parliamentarians distributed gas cylinders, checks for self-employed women and plants at the event. However, Karunagaran Yogarani from Mullaitivu district was disappointed.
"I was only given a 2.3kg gas cylinder. It is not enough for my business. I am really upset, I came here by abandoning my business. It really was a waste of time and money to travel here and the women parliamentarians cheated us," she said.
Rajaswary Sridaran, who didn't get to meet caucus members, said that many families are now headed by women in the north and east after their men died in the country's civil war (1983 - 2009).
"It's nigh impossible to make a living due to scarce opportunities," said Sridaran.
"Many women travel to big cities like Colombo or Kandy to find labor job opportunities. If the government can put up new factories then women can get jobs and earn money," she said.
Shanthi Sriskantharajah, a lawmaker from Tamil National Alliance said that some people traveled 100km to attend the event.
"Many factories in Kilinochchi were abandoned due to the war. No one thinks to re-start them and create new job opportunities for our women," said Sriskantharajah.
According to the U.N. the civil war — between government forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam — claimed the lives of at least 40,000 civilians in its final days alone. Thousands of people, mostly Tamils, disappeared during the war, while land was also seized by the military.