COLOMBO : High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, hosted a reception for the members of the Women Caucus of the Parliament of Sri Lanka on Monday, 16 June 2025 at India House.
The event was graced by Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Women & Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj as well as other Hon. Members of the Women Caucus.
Highlighting the role played by women in politics in both India and Sri Lanka over the years, High Commissioner underlined that the two countries have been global leaders in this aspect. Over the last decade, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has witnessed a transformative shift in women’s empowerment, redefining their role from passive beneficiaries to active nation-builders. With women and children comprising 67.7% of India’s population, Nari Shakti (women’s power) has been identified as a cornerstone of India’s progress. From space missions to grassroots governance, Indian women are shaping the country’s destiny.
In pursuance of the guidance of the two leaders, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Anura Kumara Disanayaka, India and Sri Lanka are working towards deepening linkages between the Women Caucus of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Women Members of Parliament of India. Three out of the twenty two members of the women caucus visited India as a part of the first orientation programme at India’s Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) in May 2025. With the current Parliament of Sri Lanka having the highest number of women MPs in its history, the collaboration will be a valuable dimension of the ongoing parliamentary level exchanges to promote democratic values and share expertise on institutional best practices between the two countries.
