Colombo, June 12: A delegation of Sri Lankan women parliamentarians met with India’s High Commissioner in Colombo on Thursday. They shared insights and experiences gained from their visit to India last month.
The Indian High Commission posted on social media platform X, stating, “Strengthening women’s empowerment in India and Sri Lanka. The delegation of Sri Lankan women MPs met High Commissioner Santosh Jha to share lessons learned from their May 2026 visit to India.”
The post further elaborated, “Discussions focused on gender budgeting, nutrition for women and children, women-led development, digitization, and community engagement best practices.”
According to the High Commission, the delegation, led by Minister of Women and Child Affairs Sarojah Savithri Paulraj, visited India from May 10 to 16. The group included 15 MPs and four officials from the Sri Lankan Parliament, including the Secretary General.
This was the first visit to India by a group of Sri Lankan women MPs. It was organized by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) in collaboration with the Indian government’s Ministry of External Affairs.
The High Commission noted, “The delegation received comprehensive information about India’s governance model and special initiatives in women’s empowerment and child welfare, including interactions with Delhi police, Anganwadi workers, and women’s self-help groups.”
The visit was conducted under the joint vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The aim was to deepen parliamentary cooperation among women leaders from both nations and strengthen their ties.
During the visit, the delegation also met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi welcomed the delegation, and they also had discussions with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The High Commission indicated that discussions were centered on promoting collaboration in areas such as women-led development, gender equality, maternal and child welfare, care economy initiatives, and women’s leadership in politics and governance.
The High Commission stated, “This visit reaffirmed the ongoing commitment of India and Sri Lanka to deepen parliamentary engagement and share developmental experiences. It highlighted the importance of women-led change and institutional cooperation in advancing inclusive and sustainable development in both countries.”
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