By Nadeeka Dissanayake

Sri Lanka held its Local Government Elections 2025 on 6 May, to elect members for 28
municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 272 pradeshiya sabhas.
In the Sri Lankan political sphere there are three levels to elect public representatives – at
national level where the president and the members of parliament are selected, provincial
level where representatives for provincial councils are elected and local government level
where representatives elected for municipal councils, urban councils and pradeshiya
sabhas. All three levels lack women representation, not adequate to the women population,
52% of the Sri Lankan population. Currently the local governments are at a special position
as its being introduced with a 25% gender quota for women as per the Local Authorities
Election (Amendment) Act No. 16 of 2017.
Lack of women representation is a pressing issue in current democracies as women political
participation is essential to embody both justice and effectiveness in governance.
Designating a quota for women in nominations as well as in the governing bodies comes in
providing a chance to fill the gap. Political experts believed that the quota induced women
leadership may increase or rather encourage women entering politics. This would support
women to overcome self-imposed stereotypes. As the quota can make leadership
opportunities more available for women, it will avoid women underinvesting in their own
human capital.
2024 was a historic year for women in politics as the share of women in Parliament rose
from 5.3% to 10.7% with the 24 women elected to the Legislature and Dr. Harini
Amarasuriya was elected as the Prime Minister. The change is seen as a reaction to the
dissatisfaction of the traditional political elite rather than the democratic requirement of fair
representation. Despite the reason behind the increase, Sri Lanka has not even come close
to results achieved by women of many of the countries in the African continent at the
national parliaments – countries that achieved greater heights with the support of the
designated women’s quota. Rwanda ranks on the top with a 63.8% women representation at
the Parliament – 51 women among the total 81 seats. The results come in after over-20
years of implementation and continuous attempts within African politics.
The world average of women national-level political representation varies around 23.5%,
which indicates the required women representation is still a struggle globally.
In the Sri Lankan context, in 2019 (following the Local Government Elections soon after
establishing the women’s quota through the amendment to the election law), the local
governments’ women representation was 1.9%, according to 2019 statistics published by the
Election Commission. The rate of women’s representation throughout the 67 years from
1947 to 2014 increased by 2.8%. Comparing the figures with the 2024 Parliamentary
General Elections, the progress seems rather slow.
In establishing the women’s quota it believed to create role models from the women leaders
elected. It is anticipated that they would create a positive attitude in the society towards
electing women in politics. Being role models, the elected women members can aspire other
women interested in politics.
Yet, the increased number of women in local governments has not been reflected in
increasing political power. The elected women members also shoulder the responsibility of
establishing political power and creating a cultural shift. The platform is created for more

women to enter decision-making level in the governing structure, and it is equally important
for the elected women to create a positive image among the public of good governance and
trust, enabling people to realise that they have used their vote worthy.
Designating a quota for women has resulted in positive outcomes in many democracies – of
which the countries of the African region are in the forefront. Irrespective of the country or
the region the quota will not be effective solely on legal and political grounds. The human
factor is crucial in creating that cultural shift. The low proportion of women in decision-
making politics is not a consequence of the absence of willing women candidates. The
barriers to women getting elected are negative attitudes towards female leaders and the
overall systemic discrimination of women which effectively prevent women from investing
funds and time in their political engagement. Unless these change, women quota will simply
be a legal requirement rather than creating a change towards a better democracy. The most
effective method to change this can be done by the women who get elected with the support
of the quota system.