Devolution of Power, Gender and Female Representation in Provincial Councils in Sri Lanka: Special References with Southern Provincial Council

Abstract

Reduce or avoid gender based discrimination and gender issues, equity and high level of participation are some of key expectations of the power devolution. To fulfil the requirement of power devolution the Provincial Councils were established in 1987 in according to the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka. However, from the initial stage of the Provincial Councils, it shows that fewer number of female representatives were included in the nomination list and negligible number of females were elected. Major objective of this study is to examine the present scenario of the female representation in Provincial Council system and examine factors affecting on less female representation in Provincial Councils. This study limits to Southern Provincial Council election in 2014. Data collected through official sources of the Election Commissioner General, questionnaire survey on randomly selected voters in Gonapeenuwal Divisional Secretariat Division in Galle District and interviews with randomly selected politicians in Southern Provincial Council. Study results shows that, 9 percent of the female candidates were include in nomination lists of the number of parties and contest for the 2014 Provincial Council election in Southern Province. However, only 1.8 percent (01) female representative was selected as a member of Southern Provincial Council. As revealed by the field survey, proportional electoral system, political system, media campaign specially social media campaign, cultural and social barriers and image of the candidates were negatively influence in female representatives in Southern Provincial Council election in 2014.