Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj

Mr. Speaker, the former Chairperson has informed the Ministry of her resignation by email. There is no requirement to inform me personally. She was the Chairperson of an independent commission. Appointments and removals of chairs of independent commissions are made through the Constitutional Council, including the President. Therefore, her resignation should be addressed to the President. As such, the Ministry has not been informed of the reasons for her resignation, and we have not sought any specific reasons privately, since that notification is required to be made to the President. Regarding the 2026 financial year, we prepared our budget submissions in May 2025. By that time, the National Commission on Women had not commenced, nor had related activities begun. In September 2025, advertisements were published, applications were called, and—through the Constitutional Council—the members for the National Commission on Women were selected. Accordingly, based on a request from the National Budget Department, an additional allocation of Rs. 50 million was earmarked for the National Commission on Women for 2026, and further funds will be obtained through a Supplementary Estimate. An Executive Director has been appointed for the Commission’s work, effective from 7 January 2026. From that date, she has been initiating the necessary work, including securing suitable office premises and other arrangements. From last September up to now, the institution has had no operational premises. Our Ministry of Women and Child Affairs is housed on the 3rd floor of the Sethi Siripaya (Sethsiripaya) administrative building of the Urban Development Authority. There is vacant space there. Once the relevant allocations are received, and until a separate independent location is found, we indicated that the Executive Director may temporarily use that space to carry out her official duties. This is not an interference with, or compromise of, the Commission’s independence in any way. I trust the Leader of the Opposition will appreciate that the independence of a commission is not determined by how physically distant it is from a Ministry building, but by the decisions it takes and the extent to which there is interference. We have not interfered in any way. Independence is not determined by where an institution is physically housed. Until the Commission secures suitable permanent premises, a temporary location within the Urban Development Authority space currently operated on a rental basis under the Ministry has been made available. The Executive Director has assumed duties from 7 January 2026 and commenced work. Until the Commission recruits its own permanent cadre, the Ministry’s permanent staff can provide support to prepare recruitment documentation and budget submissions. Recruitment procedures have been prepared for the Commission’s permanent cadre, and approval is being obtained from the Department of Management Services. Once that approval is granted, the Commission will appoint its permanent staff. None of these steps affect the Commission’s constitutionally guaranteed independence. At present, no such commission is operating within our Ministry premises. We recognize—and the Government recognizes—that the National Commission on Women’s independence must be safeguarded. Facilities have been made available for official work, if needed, at the Urban Development Authority office on the 3rd floor of Sethi Siripaya, where the Women’s Committee currently functions. The Government has no intention of making this Commission an arm of the Ministry. Once a suitable location is chosen by the Commission, it can commence operations there. The recruitment scheme for permanent staff has received approval from the Department of Management Services, and the Commission will proceed to recruit its staff accordingly. The members of the Commission themselves have been given the space to select suitable premises. We have no intention of rendering the National Commission on Women ineffective. This independent commission has been sought for nearly 30 years, and it is under our administration that the ability to establish it has materialized. Answer to Question No. [tabled]: Functions of the National Commission on Women Under Section 6 of the Women’s Empowerment Act, No. 37 of 2024, the National Commission on Women shall exercise and perform the following powers, duties and functions to achieve the objectives of the Act: - Investigate and inquire into violations or imminent violations of women’s rights, and entertain complaints in accordance with Part II of the Act. - With leave of the relevant court, intervene in proceedings concerning violations or imminent violations of women’s rights. - Formulate national policies, procedures and mechanisms necessary to realize the objectives of the Act, including a National Policy on Women’s Development and Empowerment, and a Basic Framework to implement it. - Hold public inquiries regarding violations or imminent violations of women’s rights. - Institute proceedings, suo motu or otherwise, before a court of competent jurisdiction concerning violations or imminent violations of women’s rights. - Take steps to give effect to orders made by the Supreme Court or any other court relating to women’s rights. - Require any person to furnish information or documents, or to appear before the Commission, for the discharge of its functions under the Act or regulations made thereunder. - Ensure conformity with the Constitution in respect of provisions on women’s rights; promote recognition and monitoring of women’s rights; and conduct inquiries and investigations into complaints for that purpose. - Establish interaction and coordination with boards and bodies of state institutions to promote public policies and practices, and to facilitate the discharge of functions relating to complaints before the Commission. - Open regional and provincial offices of the Commission. - Acquire, receive, hold and dispose of movable and immovable property by purchase, grant, gift or otherwise; and sell, mortgage, lease, grant, transfer, alienate, vest or exchange such property. - Conduct awareness programmes and disseminate information on women’s rights and internationally recognized instruments relating thereto. - Refer a woman concerned, upon receipt of a complaint or suo motu, to mediation in terms of the provisions of the Act. - Make recommendations to the Government and the Minister on: - Steps to ensure domestic laws, policies and administrative practices conform to internationally accepted standards and norms relating to women’s rights; and - Rules and administrative measures necessary to respect, promote, protect and fulfil women’s rights. - Evaluate laws, policies and practices relating to women’s rights, including coordination among institutions handling complaints by women affected by gender-based violence, and make recommendations to the relevant institutions. - Take steps to ensure equality and protection for women belonging to various identified categories and strata under regulations made under the Act. - Monitor and evaluate compliance by private persons and non-state entities with policies and practices relevant to women’s rights, to the extent applicable. - Conduct research to promote and protect women’s rights, and to enhance awareness and education on matters relating to women’s rights. - Receive grants, gifts or donations from local or foreign sources, subject to prior written approval of the Department of External Resources. - At its discretion, make a reasonable payment to a complainant for expenses reasonably incurred in making a complaint to the Commission under the Act. - Make rules on matters required to be prescribed under the Act. - Do all other acts as may be expedient for achieving the objectives of the Act.