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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa addressing the media yesterday – Pic by Ruwan Walpola
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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday welcomed moves by the Government to issue sanitary napkins to schoolgirls free-of-charge.
Addressing a press conference at the Opposition Leader’s office, Premadasa urged the Government to expedite the process and to make available sanitary napkins to all women in the country. Premadasa was joined by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs Thalatha Athukorale and Rohini Kavirathna.
Premadasa recalled the negative comments and criticism he faced when he made providing sanitary napkins free for women a key part of his Presidential Election manifesto.
He stated that the negative comments, criticisms and slander directed at the SJB and himself by some in the Government, when they sort to create a conversation regarding the matter, was due to ignorance. “Some of these critics did not even want to acknowledge that there was a problem related to sanitary napkins. That is a very disappointing situation,” he opined. “We must commend the Government for accepting reality and changing directions to provide sanitary napkins. It is better late than never,” Premadasa said, pointing out that many predictions made by the SJB have been proven right one year on. “I call on the Government not to stop this process by only providing sanitary napkins to schoolgirls but to expand it, in stages if necessary, and provide them to all women in the country,” Premadasa said.
The Opposition Leader called for bipartisan support in the Parliament for the move, citing the importance of improving the health and wellbeing of girls and women who make up 51% of the population.
