A 19‑member delegation of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka, led by Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, visited India from 10- 16 May, marking the caucus’s first‑ever official visit to the country.
The delegation, comprising 15 Members of Parliament and four parliamentary officials, including the Secretary General, undertook the visit under the joint vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to deepen parliamentary cooperation and strengthen linkages between women leaders of both nations.
According to a statement from the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, the programme was organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) in collaboration with India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
During the visit, the delegation called on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and met India’s Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, as well as Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Discussions focused on women‑led development, gender equality, maternal and child welfare, care economy initiatives, and women’s leadership in politics and governance.
The Sri Lankan parliamentarians were also exposed to India’s governance models and initiatives in women empowerment and child welfare, including interactions with Delhi Police, Anganwadi workers, and Women Self‑Help Groups. At the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), they learned about the role of digital identity in inclusive service delivery. The FICCI Ladies Organisation hosted a roundtable on women as drivers of economic growth and innovation, while PRIDE facilitated sessions on legislative processes, gender budgeting, and parliamentary committee systems.
As part of cultural immersion, the delegation visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, India Gate and the War Memorial in New Delhi, and the “Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One” exhibit at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex.
The Indian High Commission stated that the visit reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to deepen parliamentary engagement and highlighted the importance of women‑led transformation and institutional collaboration in advancing inclusive and sustainable development. (Newswire)