13th January 2026
Dear Sir,
We write to you on an urgent matter.
As political activists working with numerous communities across Sri Lanka, we have been observing increasing incidents of violence against women in the last few months. Violence at home, at the workplace, in public spaces and online continues unabated. Even the Prime Minister of the government you lead has not been spared from sexualised abuse and attacks online. Most recently, several women including Swasthika Arulingam have been subjected to sexualised verbal attacks online by Member of Parliament Ramanathan Archchuna.
In order to submit complaints regarding these incidents, we attempted to reach the National Women’s Commission, whose members you recently appointed. The Commission has the power to, among other things, inquire into and investigate the infringement of women’s rights and receive complaints. We were, however, unable to find any way to reach the Commission, and upon making enquiries, were credibly informed that the Commission only exists on paper. The Commission has not been allocated a budget; does not have an independently situated office space; and does not have any staff or resources to function. It does not even have an official seal.
Further as a response to a recent RTI request submitted by M Juwairiya, your Secretariat has forwarded the RTI request to the Information Officer of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. This conduct of your Secretariat sent a clear indication to us, that the paper nomination of the National Women’s Commission is already made subordinate to a Ministry, which clearly violates the purpose, mandate and independence of the National Women’s Commission.
The Commission is the result of hard-fought battles by many women of our time. You as the Executive President responsible for appointing the Commission violate your Constitutional mandate by deliberately leaving the National Women’s Commission inoperative. As a result, you also become responsible for enabling the culture of misogyny and sexism to further spread in our society without legal protections for victims. As women and as victims of gender based violence we find this conduct of yours unconscionablWe demand that you enable the National Women’s Commission to function by allocating it sufficient finances, resources and an independent office space. We further demand that the National Women’s Commission be given the political and financial space and means to function independent of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. We further demand that you provide a timeline as to when these measures will be taken and when the Commission will become fully operative. We look forward to your response at the earliest.
Thank you.
Endorsements
Individuals
- Abdul Wahid Jeseela
- Ajitha A.
- Aliza Hussein
- Amalini De Sayrah
- Amani Raji
- Aneesa Firthous
- Angela Forman
- Angelica Chandrasekeran
- Anithra Varia
- Anjana Sivaharon
- Anomaa Rajakaruna
- Aqilah Nikhat Naleem
- Ashila Dandeniya
- B. Sangeetha
- Barathy Sivaraja
- Bisliya Bhutto
- C. Ranitha Gnanarajah, AAL
- C. Tozer
- Chanu Nimesha
- Chulani Kodikara
- Dhammika de Silva
- Dr Rajni Gamage
- Dr. Amali Wedagedara
- Dr. Misha’ari Weerabangsa
- Dr. Sakuntala Kadirgamar
- Duleeka Nonis
- E. A. Pathumika Thathsarani
- F. Sanoosiya
- Fairoos Ilma
- Fathima Amra
- Fathima Sumaiya Frahath
- Fawzul Himaya Hareed
- Fawzul Rifaya
- Fiyasa Muja
- Gameela Samarasinghe
- H.M. Chathurika Sewwandi, AAL
- Hemalatha K.
- Hemanthi Goonasekera
- Ishani Ranasinghe
- Ismayil Aaysha Banu
- Isuri Kumbukage
- Ithayarani Sithravel
- J. Sneha
- Jasintha Subasinghe
- Jeyarasa vergin subashini
- Joanne Senn
- Juwairiya Mohideen
- K. Mahaluxmy
- K. Mathana
- K. Puspavathy
- Kalani Subasinghe
- Kamala Vasuki
- Kanaka Abeygunawardana
- Kandiah Rasaledsumi
- Kandiah Rasaledsumi
- Kounthini R.
- Kuvenitha S.
- L. KASMY
- Laveena Hasanthi
- M. Fathima shammama
- M. Kiliyopedra
- M. L. Zahra
- M. Lasiya
- M. Nithurshini
- Manjula Moorthy
- Marisa de Silva
- Mariyarosari S.
- Melani Gunathilaka
- Melani Manel Perera
- Mohamed Majeed Jansila
- Mujeeba Mujeeb
- Muqaddasa Abdul Wahid
- Nabeela Iqbal
- Nadeesha Hanwella
- Nalini Ratnarajah
- Nehama Jayewardene
- Nilmini Nonis
- Nimanthi Fernando, AAL
- Nirmala M.
- Nirmala T.
- Niththika S.
- Nivanthini S.
- P. Brintha
- Padma Pushpakanthi
- Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan (Retired, University of Peradeniya)
- Prof. Vasuki Nesiah
- Puni Selvaratnam
- Queen Juliet Nalliah
- Rahman A.
- Rajany Rajeswary
- Raveendran V.
- Rosita Fernando
- S. Jegathes Wary
- S. Karthika
- S. Mohana Dharshiny
- S. Tamiliny
- S. Yasothara
- Safarij Bhutto
- Safiya Riyaz
- Sakina Mansoorally
- Samiha Mohamed Muhsin
- Sarankan K.
- Saththiyaseelan K.
- Saththiyavanie Simon Silva
- Shabnam Farwin
- Shamila Sheriff
- Shamini V.
- Shirani Cooray
- Sirany Thevakumar
- Sister Berni De Silva
- Sister Damitha De Silva
- Sister Deepa Fernando
- Sister Marian Evusta
- Sister Shandika Perera
- Sister Shiromi Fernando
- Siyana Niyas
- Souminy Perinparajah
- Subathra Yogasingham
- Suganthini S.
- Sujatha J.
- Sulochana Peiris
- Sumithra Sellathamby
- Swasthika Arulingam, AAL
- T. Fattima
- T. Mallika
- T. Shanthidevi
- Tehani Ariyaratne
- Tharushi Dishara Fernando, AAL
- Thasneema Dahlan
- Thassim Samima
- Thayalini J.
- Thiagi Piyadasa, AAL
- Thileepan S.
- Uma Shanika Pararajasingam
- Vanie Simons
- Venuja. Konsan Robert
- Vimukthi Desilva
- Visakha Tillekeratne
Organisations
- Islamic Women’s Association for Research and Empowerment (IWARE)
- Mannar Women’s Development Federation
- Movement of Christian Women’s Voice (MoCWV)
- Muslim Women’s Development Trust (MWDT)
- Puttalam District Women’s Self Employment and Coexistence Forum
- Sisterhood Initiative
- Standup Movement Lanka
- Thean Aruvi Women’s Center
- Tholamai.V
- Vallamai Movement for Social Change