The Hon. (Mrs.) Geetha Herath, Attorney-at-Law

## Summary Hon. (Mrs.) Geetha Herath spoke in support of the Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Sri Lanka Bill, arguing that the current absence of a regulatory framework has produced conflicts, opacity, and financial irregularities flagged by the Financial Intelligence Unit, and that the Bill would establish professional standards, strengthen investor confidence, and support national development. She noted the coexistence of overlapping bodies—including a Companies Act-registered entity and the Institute of Valuers—as evidence of the need for clear legal structure, and referenced the University of Sri Jayewardenepura's longstanding Estate Management programme. She also briefly endorsed the Container Depot Operators Bill and amendments relating to shipping and freight licensing as complementary regulatory measures. The member additionally raised a procedural and social concern, noting that the Tenth Parliament contains the highest number of women Members in Sri Lanka's history and calling on the House to condemn what she characterized as targeted abuse and social media smear campaigns against female parliamentarians, warning that such conduct sets a harmful precedent for violence against women in broader society.