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Working Paper No.: 03 August 2012
 
 

ES WORKING PAPER SERIES
omen in Local Government from 2006 to 2011: A Comparative Analysis of Representation of Women and Nominations for Women
ChUlani Kodikara

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ICES Working Paper Series: 3
Women in Local Governn A Comparative Analysis of Re Nominations
Chulani K
International Center
August

ment from 2006 to 2011: presentation of Women and for Women
odikara
for Ethnic Studies
2012

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(C) 2012 International Centre for Ethnic Studies
2, Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8
Sri Lanka
E-mail: admin(a)ices.lk
URL: http://ices.lk/
ISBN: 978-955-580-129-4
Printed By: Karunatatne & Sons (Pvt) Ltd

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Abst
This study of the 2006 and 2008-2011 local autho number of women elected to local authorities fol 2008, 2009 and 2011 elections disaggregated by dis the country. Secondly, it compares the number O 2011 elections by the four major political parties -l National Party (UNP), Janathe Vimukthi Peramu (ITAK) -disaggregated by ethnicity, in the distric Trincomalee. This study aims to unmask and disagg to identifying and analysing patterns and trends in
local government in Sri Lanka. In the absence of O study fills a critical gap while emphasizing the ne framework from a gender perspective. The study Nominations and Votes for Women Programme ir and the International Centre for Ethnic Studi organisations.

ra Ct
orities elections held in Sri Lanka, compares the lowing the 2006 elections with figures from the strict, party and ethnicity across all 25 districts of f nominations given to women at the 2006 and Jnited Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), United na (TVP), and the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi ts of Badulla, Galle, Kurunegala, Moneragala and regate national averages and statistics with a view representation of and nominations for women at fficial sex disaggregated data on nominations, the ed to review the Official election data-gathering was conducted as part of the Changing Minds: mplemented by the Women and Media Collective es in collaboration With five other Women's

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Conta
Introduction
Representation of Women: 2006 and 2008/
Nominations for Women: 2006 and 2011 L.
Converting nominations into seats
Conclusions

ents
1
2009/2011 Local Government Elections 5
Ocal Government Elections 13
20
22

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Acronyms and,
Eelam People's Democratic Party
International Centre for Ethnic Studies
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi
Janathā Vimukthi Peramuņa
Municipal Councils
Proportional Representation Electoral System
Pradeshiya Sabhas
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
Tamil National Alliance
Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
United People's Freedom Alliance
United National Party
Urban Councils
United Nations
Women and Media Collective
Wii

Abbreviations
EPDIP
ICES
ITAK
JVP
MC
PRSystem
PS
S|LMC
TNA
TMVP
UPFA
UNIP
UC
WMC

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Table 1: Table 2:
Table 3: Table 4: Table 5: Table 6: Table 7: Table 8: Table 9:
Table 10: Table 11: Table 12:
List of
No of Local Councils According to Date of Women's Representation in Local Governm Representation of Women by District
Women’s Representation in the Selected Di Representation in some Local Authorities 2 Representation in some Local Authorities: 2 Party-wise representation of women in local Elected Women by Party and Ethnicity 200 Elected Women by Party and Ethnicity 200 Women elected from the youth quota in the Women elected from the youth quota in the No. of candidates at Local Government elec
Table 13: Nominations for Women 1987-2006
Table 14: Table 15: Table 16: Table 17: Table 18: Table 19: Table 20: Table 21: Table 22: Table 23: Table 24: Table 25:
: 2011 Nominations for and Representation of : 2011 Nominations for and Representation of : 2006 Nominations for to Representation rati : 2011 Nominations for to Representation ratic
Table 26 Table 27 Table 28 Table 29
Nominations for Women: 2006 Local Gove Nominations for Women: 2011 Local Gove Nominations for Women by the UPFA 200 Nominations for Women by the UPFA 201 Nominations for Women by the UNP 2006 Nominations for Women by the UNP 2011 Nominations for Women by the JVP 2006 Nominations for Women by the JVP 2011 Nominations for Women by ITAK 2006 Nominations for Women by ITAK 2011 2006 Nominations for and Representation C 2006 Nominations for and Representation C

Tables
Elections ent from 1966 as a % of Total Membership
stricts
OO6 008-2011 Elections
authorities
3 - 2011
Selected Five Districts 2006 Selected Five Districts 2011 tions of 1987 and 1991
rnment Elections rnment Elections 6 1.
of Men and Women (UPFA) of Men and Women (UNP) Men and Women (UPFA) Men and Women (UNP) D in the 5 districts (UPFA & UNP) o in the 5 districts (UPFA & UNP)

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ICES Working Papers:
1. Kodikara,Chulani 2012 “Only Until the Rice is Ideology and Cultural Narratives in Sri Lanka,
2. Chaaminda, Sumith 2012 Fishing in Turbulen
2012.

Cooked?: The Domestic Violence Act, Familial ICES Working Paper 1, May 2012.
I Waters, ICES Working Paper 2, September

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Women in Local Govern r
A Comparative Analysis of Re Nominations
1. Introduction
It is often easier for women to participate in lo for the local level are less stringent, and local g and easier to combine with rearing children. It such it may serve as a springboard to nat experiences.
Likewise local politics can be more interesti Community, being the major users of space a waste disposal, health clinics, and other social in their neighbourhood, and it’s easier to in making at the local level.
Local government is where women would logically provincial and national elections. However, parac women's representation has been the lowest. Sinc government comprising Municipal Councils, Ui representation has been between 1.7% and 2.0 women's entry into other levels of governmen government. In particular, nominations for wome of patron-client relationships that run from th competition to get into local government. Althou; government show an upward trend, research indic and smaller political parties, which proliferated representation system filling their lists with wome political parties that actually win elections have (Kodikara 2009).
It is against this backdrop that the Women and Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) initiated –Cl Women- a programme to increase the percer political parties at the 2011 local government elect

Women in LOCa | GOVernment from 2006 -2011
ment from 2006 to 2011:
presentation of Women and
for Women
cal than at the national level, because eligibility criteria overnment is the closest to the women's sphere of life, can be the first level that women can break into and as ional politics, by developing capacities and gaining
ng to women as they are well acquainted with their nd Services in the local community (Water, electricity, services). They also participate actively in organisations volve these organisations in formal political decision
Evertzen (2001:8)
find it easiest to contest elections as compared to toxically in Sri Lanka, local government is where e the establishment of the current system of local ban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas in 1987, 1%. All of the obstacles and barriers that limit t appear to be magnified at the level of local n by the major parties have remained low because e national to the local and the high level of gh the figures for nominations of women in local ates that this is mainly due to independent groups following the introduction of the proportional 2n while the nomination of women by the major
remained more or less stagnant Over the years
Media Collective (WMC) and the International langing Minds: Nominations and Votes for ntage of nominations for women by the major
tions. The programme implemented from January

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2010 to June 2012 in partnership with five wom of women nominees to at least 20% in 50 party Smaller parties representing the minority Tamil : selected districts of Badulla, Galle, Kurunegala programme sought to enhance the possibilities of by profiling and highlighting their leadership at th about the negative implications of the very low highlighting the Value of increasing representati partner Organisations in this regard were strengthe
at the national level.
Prior to 2011, local government elections were las to serve as a reference point or benchmark to c statistics and also as a tool to measure the impact districts. In addition, this study aims to unmask a representation and nominations with a view to representation and nomination of Women in loca from this survey will inform a qualitative study of
and public action seeking to enhance the number
The focus of this study is twofold. Firstly, it c authorities following the 2006 local government el local government elections disaggregated by distri country; (referred to henceforth as representation nominations given to women at the 2006 and 20 political parties -United Peoples Freedom Alli Peramuna, and the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachch disaggregated by ethnicity, in the districts of
Trincomalee; (referred to henceforth as nominatio
Therefore, this study paints an island-wide pictur while focusing in greater detail on Women's repr analysis of nomination statistics in part 3 of the ri where the Changing Minds programme was implem
compiled from Original nomination papers file
1 The five partner organisations were: Women's Developm Women's Resource Centre (Kurunegala), Uva Wellassa F (Trincomallee).

en's organisations' sought to increase the number lists (including the two largest political parties and and Muslim communities in Sri Lanka) in the 5 , Moneragala and Trincomalee. In parallel, this success of the Women who obtained nominations
e local level, raising awareness within communities representation of women in local authorities, and on. The local initiatives undertaken by the five 2ned with advocacy amongst political party leaders
st held in 2006. This baseline study was conducted 'nable a comparison between the 2006 and 2011 of the Changing Minds programme in the selected nd disaggregate national averages and statistics On identifying and analysing patterns and trends in l government elections in Sri Lanka. The findings the Changing Minds programme as well as advocacy
of women in local government in the country.
Ompares the number of Women elected to local ections with figures from the 2008, 2009 and 2011 ct, party and ethnicity across all 25 districts of the ! statistics). Secondly, it compares the number of )11 local government elections by the four major ance, United National Party, Janathe Vimukthi hi (ITAK) (Tamil National Alliance - TNA) — f Badulla, Galle, Kurunegala, Moneragala and in statistics).
e Of Women's representation in local government, esentation in the 5 selected districts. The detailed eport is however limited to the 5 selected districts ented. The data concerning nominations had to be d by political parties with the Department of
ment Centre (Badulla), Sarvodaya / Diriyata Saviyak (Galle), armer Women’s Organisation (Moneragala) and Viluthu,

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Elections and it was beyond the scope of this p papers filed across the country.
In Sri Lanka, fairly comprehensive sex-disaggreg collected as a matter of routine but there is limited other areas. In relation to representation of Wol Government and Provincial Councils compiles st authorities but this information is not disaggreg accuracy of this data is also questionable as the Se: even though there are many unisex names, particul for women in local government elections are in fac party, ethnicity or district. This study therefore see the need to urgently review the official election dat
This study notes that the need to collect statistics C the First World Conference on Women in 1975, is feminist circles, both to identify the gender dimer faced by women and also to formulate approp problems. The United Nations (UN) has consiste1 of development. According to the UN, the deart sectors has led to a lack of understanding of the 'd it with respect to education, work, health, personal policy that has been ill-formed, strategy that is Nations, 1995: xvii).
In fact, the task of collecting such nominations sta the fact that nomination papers currently do noth The sex of the candidate is also not indicated i Gazette of the government of Sri Lanka, elections or information available on their website. For the
sex of candidates was ascertained from their N. coded for sex, included in the nomination paper districts of Badulla, Galle, Kurunegala, Monera differentiated by sex, it also becomes extremely di:
noted above.
The task of gathering data for this study was fur have not been held at One and the same time but
elections studied here refers to elections to 288 lo
3

Women in LOCa | GOVernment from 2006 -2011
roject to undertake a scrutiny of all nomination
ated data in relation to education and health is i or no sex-disaggregated data in relation to many men in local government, the Ministry of Local atistics on the number of Women elected to local ated by party, ethnicity or even by district. The K of elected members is determined by their name larly in the Sinhala language. Data on nominations it not compiled at all leave alone disaggregation by ks to fill this critical gap in data while underlining
'a-gathering framework from a gender perspective.
lisaggregated by sex which was first highlighted by now well accepted in development as much as in isions of various social phenomena and problems oriate responses to address these concerns and ntly called for more disaggregated data in all areas h of information on Women's activities across all
ifferent worlds that women and men live in – be 1 security or even leisure time. The result has been
unfounded and practice unquestioned (United
tistics disaggregated by sex is rendered difficult by lave a column to indicate the sex of the Candidate. in the nominations information published in the statistics compiled by the Department of Elections
purpose of this study, information regarding the ational Identity Card (NIC) numbers, which are is filed with the Department of Elections in the agala, and Trincomalee. As candidates are not
fficult to determine the sex of elected members as
ther complicated by the fact that these elections
on a staggered basis. The 2006 local government cal authorities held on 30" March 2006 and 20"

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May 2006 out of a total of 330 local bodies. Ele
were not held on grounds of security in 2006 even
With the defeat of the LTTE in the East in 2007 ; local authorities in Batticaloa in 2008, and to the J. Other local authorities in the North. The term of 2 but was extended by One year and elections calle elections to 31 local authorities in the North and
2008 or 2009 and to five new local authorities add authorities in Mullaitivu District were postpone
internally displaced persons, continuing demining .
The 2011 local government elections therefore ref Of 335 local authorities in Sri Lanka. These elect March 2011, 23 July 2011 and 8" October 2011. is shown as spanning 2008-2011 because local au elected in 2008, 2009 and in 2011 respectively (see
Table 1: No of Local Councils Accordina to Da
Date of Election MC UC ܡ ܲ
10" March 2008 1. 8 Sept 2009 1. 17th March 2011 3 23" July 2011 1. 8" October 2011 17 Elections not held O Total 23
These 42 councils comprise 33 of the 34 local authorities Puthukudiyarippu Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) in Mullaitivu wl authorities in Batticaloa, Monitoring Report, LG Election
* The normal term of a local authority is 4 years but the lav
year.
5 The five new local authorities are: 1) Dambulla MC (Mat Narammala PS (Kurunegala District), 4) Lunugala PS (B. should also be noted that two Urban Councils (Bandaraw (Kaduwela PS) were promoted to MCs, and one Pradesh and 2011.

:tions to 42 local councils in the North and East though elections were initially called.
and in the North in 2009, elections were held to 9 uffna MC and Vavuniya UC in 2009, but not to 31 88 local authorities elected in 2006 ended in 2010, *d in 2011". In 2011, the government also called East where elections had not been held in 2006, 2d since 2006. Subsequently elections to two local d due to alleged delays in the resettlement of
activities and a pending Court judgement.
er to the election Of 322 authorities Out of a total ions were also held on a staggered basis on 17" Thus throughout this document the current period Ithorities are currently functioning with members
Table 1).
te of Elections
|PS Total
O 8 9
1. O 2
30 201 234
9 55 65
1. 5 23
O 2 2
41 271 335
in the Northern districts with the exception of lich got elected uncontested, and 9 of the 12 local is, 30th March and 20th May 2006, PAFFREL.
allows the Central Government to extend this by one
ale District), 2) Akkaraipattu MC (Ampara District), 3) dulla District), 5) Irrakkamam PS (Ampara District). It rela UC and Hambantota UC) and one Pradeshiya Sabha ya Sabha (Eravur PS) was promoted to a UC between 2006

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2. Representation of Women: 2006 a
Government Elections
The local government system in Sri Lanka is a (MC), Urban Councils (UC) and Pradeshiya Sabha with the provisioning of various public goods and populations.
Currently there are 335 local authorities in Sri Lanl 271 Pradeshiya Sabhas. The size of each differs ac population in the area. The population of a loc 250,000 people (Slater 1997:256). The compositior 53 members in the Colombo Municipal Council, th Pradeshiya Sabhas comprising no more than 5 r
members across all local authorities in Sri Lanka.
Role and Function of local government autho While local government has a long history in Sri L. structure derives its powers and functions from Ordinance of 1939, The Municipal Councils Ordir 15 of 1987. Under these Acts, local authorities including the construction and maintenance of ro markets and fairs, waste disposal, water supply, set at least in the Pradeshiya Sabha Act for initiating played a key role with regard to broader developm and adequate funds. Around two-thirds to three meeting administrative costs and other recurrent from the Central Government for development authorities exercising significant power over cap purview. Another reason that local government b provision of a few services and facilities, and fr programmes within their jurisdictions may be du implement its policies and programmes through its bodies (ICES n.d., Slater 1997).

Women in Local Government from 2006-2011
nd 2008/2009/2011 Local
three-tier system comprising Municipal Councils s (PS). Local government bodies are mainly tasked
services required by rural, urban and metropolitan
ka; 23 Municipal Councils, 41 Urban Councils and 'cording to the geographical area it serves and the al authority area ranges from around 30,000 to 1 of each local council thus Varies from as many as he single largest local body in the country, to small
members. Currently, there are over 4000 elected
rities anka, going back to pre colonial times, the present three pieces of legislation: The Urban Councils lance of 1947, and The Pradeshiya Sabha Act No. have been granted a wide range of functions ads, drains, culverts and bridges, public building, ting up libraries, etc. Although, there is provision, development activities, local authorities have not ent planning and projects due to lack of Capacities fourths of their revenues generally go towards expenditures, leaving them dependent on grants activities. As a result, it is rare to find local ital-intensive projects even in areas within their Dodies have been restricted in their scope to the Om undertaking significant economic upliftment le to a tendency within Central Government to administrative apparatus rather than elected local

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Areas Under the Purview of Local Govern
Fire protection Primary Health
Preschools Health protecti
Kindergarten and Nursery Housing and Tc
Family Welfare Services Roads
Welfare Homes Water and Sani
As Richard Slater points out local government
recognised, in principle, the need for effective a voters, establishing mechanisms such as People's right to observe meetings of local government bo threshold for local councilors to Overcome the ti the implementation of the youth quota as other m governance. There are however, serious concern
authorities.
Representation of Women in Local Authoritie Currently, women comprise 2.01% of all elected m
marks a marginal increase Over a twenty-year perio
Table 2:o Women's Representation in Lo
Membership
': Urban Councils
1966 1.1 ༡:
1970 2.9 ༡་
1979 2.8
1982 1.3
1991 2.9
6 Sec 11 read together with sec 184 of The Pradeshiya Sabl
in 1988.
7. A study of the composition of elected members in 52 loc Home Affairs and Provincial Councils did find that arou and that almost 14% of Chairmen were also from this sa
8 Local government elections are normally meant to be he disrupted due to various factors including the war, chang reflects an uneven periodicity.

ment
Care Refuse Collection and disposal
Dn Cemeteries and Crematoria
wn planning Slaughterhouses
Museums and Libraries
tation Parks and Open Spaces
reforms which took place in Sri Lanka in 1991 :countability between elected representatives and Committees (Slater 1997) and granting people the dies." Slater also identifies the lowering of the age raditional age /elite bias of elected members and echanisms to improve accountability and access to
s with respect to women's representation in local
s 2006 and 2008-2011 hembers across all three types of local bodies. This d, from 1991 to 2011.
Cal Government from 1966 as a % of Total
Pradeshiya Sabhas Total
.9 ★大
.4 ★火
2.3 ★大
7
2.5 1.6 1.7
la Act No.15 of 1987 and regulations passed by the Minister
al authorities conducted by the UPU of the Ministry of ld one-third of elected members were below 35 years of age me age category (Slater 1997:257). ld every four years. However, the election cycle has been es to the local government system, etc. This table therefore

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Matara 200
Hambantota 138 Kurunegala 338 Puttalam 161 Anuradhapura 203 Polonnaru Wa 91 Rathnapura 229 Kegalla 195 Badulla 216 Moneragala 104 Batticaloa 27 Ampara 192 TrinCOmalee 118
Jaffna -
KilinOChchi -
Mannar -
Vavuniya - MulaitiVu 9 Total 3943
Source: Compiled by the International Center for Ethnic Studies, N
With reference to the five districts that were the
slight increase in representation of women in representation remained stable, while Badulla and representation. In Moneragala representation drop
Table 4: Women's Representation in the Sele
2006
District Total No. No of
of Women counselors
Badulla 216 6
Galle 244 2 Kurunegala 338 2 Moneragala 104. 1. TrinCOmalee 118 5
1020 16
Representation at individual council level When these statistics are disaggregated by in authorities (close to 80%) without a single wom
more than 10% of women.
Within the five districts that were the focus of t highest representation of women with 16.6% O
elections.

3 1.50% 200 3 1.5%
O 0.00% 141 1. O.70%
2 0.59% 340 3 0.88%
3 1.86% 161 3 1.86%
6 2.95% 2O3 4. 1.97%
1. 1.09% 91. 1. 1.09%
4. 1.74% 229 4. 1.74%
3 1.53% 195 1. 0.51%
6 2.77% 215 5 2.32%
1. 0.96% 104 O 0.00%
O 0.0% 128 4. 3.12%
3 1.56% 201 4. 1.99%
5 4.23% 118 4. 3.38%
- - 224 10 4.46%
- 38 O 0.00%
- - 46 O 0.00%
- - 52 1. 1.92%
O 0.00% 18 1. 5.55%
74 1.87% 4466 90 2.01% lay 2012
focus of the Changing Minds programme, there is a 1 Kurunegala from 0.59% to 0.88%. In Galle, Trincomalee marked a slight decrease in women's oped to zero.
cted Districts
2011
% of Total No. No of % of Women of Women Women
counselors
2.7% 215 5 2.32%
0.81% 244 2 0.81%
0.59% 340 3 O.88%
0.96% 104 O O.OO%
4.2% 118 4. 3.38%
1.56% 1021 14 1.37%
dividual local authorities, there are many local
an, while there are few exceptional Councils with
his study, the Trincomalee Urban Council had the
f its members being women following the 2006

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Table 5: Representation in some Local Authori
Local Council District
TrinCO UC TrinCOmalee Uva Paranagama PS Badulla Verugal PS Trincomalee Niyagama PS Galle Udubaddawa PS Kurunegala Galgamuwa. PS Kurunegala Welimada PS Badulla
But many local authorities dor
In 2011, Verugal Pradeshiya Sabha had the highest repre
Table 6: Representation in some Local Authori
Local Council District
Verugal PS TrinCOmalee Uva Paranagama PS Badulla SeruWila PS TrinCOmalee Ambalangoda MC Galle GalgamuWa PS Kurunegala Welimada PS Badulla
But many local authorities do n
Party - wise representation of women Following the 2006 elections 62.16% of the 74 v United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in a victory'. Sixteen point two percent (16.21%) of all the JVP, and 4.05% from ITAK respectively. Mor independent groups."
It should however be noted that 5 of the 6 indi councils were from independent groups which were
of their lists) and therefore cannot strictly be c
" Local government elections in Sri Lanka heighten political instabilit)
http://pypi.psu.org/articles/2006/Mar2006/sril 730.sht/
12 There was one woman who was elected to Eheliyagoda Ps
up her seat.
13 The UNP endorsed Independent Group No.3 from Colon and Independent Group No. 2 from Seethawaka PS which
9

Women in LOCa | GOVernment from 2006 -2011
ties 2006
Total No. of No of % of counselors Women Women
12 2 16.6%
19 3 15.7%
7 1. 14.2%
9 1. 11.1%
10 1. 10.0%
18 1. 5.5%
21 1. 4.7%
Iot have a single Woman.
sentation with 28.4% of its members being women.
ties: 2008-2011 Elections
Total No. of No of % of counselors Women Women
7 2 28.4%
19 3 15.7%
9 1. 11.1%
12 1. 8.3%
18 1. 5.5%
21 1. 4.7%
ot have a single Woman.
Women elected to local councils were from the
context where the UPFA secured a landslide elected women were from the UNP, 9.45% from
reover, 8.10% of the elected women, were from
ependent candidates who were elected to local 2 endorsed by the UNP' (following the rejection considered to have won on their independent
, By K. Ratnayaée, 30 March 2006.
S from the United Socialist Party (USP), who never took
nbo which contested under the symbol of the 'Spectacles'
contested under the symbol of the Ship’.

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credentials. In fact, Independent Group No. 3 CO as a proxy party for the UNP following th Commissioner, and then refused to honour the UNP candidates. This is significant because if th Independent Group no. 3 would have lost their
WOnen.
This just left Sajeewani Nissansala Peiris who cor woman Candidate to have won these elections independent candidate is a remarkable One given
the proportional representation (PR) system and it
Table 7: Party-wise representation of women
2006
Total no of elected As a political party affiliation "e"'"
each electi
political VOJ. Party UPFA 46
UNP 12
JVP 7
ITAK 3
TMVP O
SLMC O
ATNA O
CWC O
National Workers Congress O Democratic People's Front O Independent Groups 6 74
Following the 2008-2011 elections the overwhelm from the UPFA on account of UPFA's enduring represented 24.44% and ITAK Women represent Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), perhaps for the women to local government bodies. Although
candidates, not a single woman from an independ
In comparison with 2006, following the 2008-201 the UNP and also ITAK has increased while the

intested the Colombo Municipal Council elections e rejection of the UNP list by the Elections pre-electoral agreement to give up their seats to he agreement was adhered to, the 4 women from seats to UNP candidates who may not have been
htested the Moratuwa Municipal Council as a lone from an Independent Group. Her victory as an the difficulties of winning as independents under
in the current political climate in Sri Lanka.
in local authorities
2008-2011.
Total no of % of elected As a % of
no of Women from total no of ed each elected e political WOTAS
출 Party 62.2% 50 55.6%
16.2% 22 24.5%
9.4% 1. 1.1%
4.1% 8 8.9%
O.O% 3 3.3%
O.0% 2 2.2%
O.0% 1. 1.1%
O.0% 1. 1.1%
O.O% 1. 1.1%
O.0% 1. 1.1%
8.1% O O.0%
100.00 90 100.0
ing majority of women elected (55.55%) remained popularity and winning streak. The UNP women ed 8.88% of all women elected members. The Sri | first time in its history returned not one but two a number of women contested as independent
2nt group won at the 2008-2011 elections.
| elections, the percentage of women elected from
percentage of Women elected from the UPFA has

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decreased. The most dramatic loss of the percenta
whose share of Women came down from 9.45% to
It is not possible to determine to what extent won compared to the men in their parties because a bre
not available at the time of this study.
Ethnic representation
It should also be noted that the Overwhelming m are from the Sinhala community. From the 74 wi 2006 elections, 65 (87.8%) were from the Sinhala c
and only 1 (1.3%) woman elected was from the Mu
Table 8: Elected Women by Ethnicity 2006 Total no E. As a % of
of elected total of Political
賞Cー VAIVOS Sinhala WOTen T Party from each
political
UpFA 46 45 97.8%
UNP 12 11 91.6%
JVP 7 7 100.0%
ITAK 3 O O.0%
Independent 6 2 33.3% Groups
74 65 87.8%
It should be noted that of the 8 Tamil women elec above) which contested the Colombo Municipal ( The only Tamil woman who was elected from th Sabha in the Nuwara Eliya District.
In the 2008-2011 elections, the ethnic breakdown follows: 68 (75.55%). Sinhalese, 19 (21.22%) Tamil:
11
 
 
 
 
 

Women in LoCal Government from 2006-2011
ge of women was however recorded by the JVP 1.119/6.
men increased or decreased their share of seats as akdown of the total number of seats by party was
ajority of women represented in local authorities omen elected to local government following the ommunity, 8 (10.8%) from the Tamil community
slim community.
As a %
amil Musi
1. 2.2% of ooo,
O 0.0% 1 8.4%
O O.0% O O.0%
3 100.0% O O.O%
4. 67.3% O 0.0%
8 10.8% 1 1.3%
ited, 4 were from Independent Group No. 3 (see Council elections as a proxy party for the UNP. e UPFA was from the Ambagamuwa Pradeshiya
of the women elected to local government is as and 3 (3.33%) are Muslim women.

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Table 9: Elected Women by Ethnicity 2008 - 2
Total no of As a % of elected total of
Women from Sinhala WOT e each political Party | | ) ) UPFA 50 46 92.0%
UNP 22 19 86.4%
ITAK 8 O 0.0%
TMVP 3 O O.0%
SLMC 2 1. 50.0%
JVP 1. 1. 100.0%
ATNA 1. O O.0%
CWC 1. O O.0%
National Workers 1. O Congress O.0% Democratic People's 1. 1. Front 1OO.O%
90 68 75.5%
Representation of Tamil women has more than di
mainly due to elections being held to many local :
many years. The number of Muslim Women also ir
Youth Quota While it was not possible to ascertain how many C
the youth quota for all districts, in the five district
percentage of elected women did come in through
had secured nomination under the youth quota.
Table 10: Women elected from the youth qu{
District Total No. of
counselors
Badulla 216 Moneragala 104 Kurunegala 338 TrinCOmalee 118
Galle 244
Total 1020
 

011
As a %
Tamil Muslim
4. 8.0% O O.0%
1. 4.5% 2 9.1%
8 100.0% O 0.0%
3 100.0% O O.0%
O O.0% 1. 50.0%
O 0.0% O O.0%
1. 100.0% O O.0%
1. 100.0% O O.0%
1. 100.0% O O.0%
O O.0% O O.0%
19 21.2% 3 3.3%
oubled following the 2008-2011 elections. This is authorities in the North and East after a hiatus of
creased from one to three.
of the women elected obtained nominations under is that were studied in-depth for this survey, a fair l the youth quota. In 2006, 25% of elected women
ota in the Selected Five Districts 2006
No of Women % of Women Women elected from
youth quota
6 2 33.3%
1. O O.O%
2 O O.0%
5 1. 20.0%
2 1. 50.0%
16 4. 25.0%

Page 25
In the 2008-2011 elections, 28.6% of elected wome
Table 11: Women elected from the youth quo
District Total No. of N
counselors WM
Badulla 215
Galle 244 Kurunegala 340 Moneragala 104 TrinCOmalee 118
Total 1021
3. Nominations for Women
Given that the goal of the Changing Minds Programn five districts of Badulla, Galle, Kurunegala, Mor ascertain the number of nominations given to Wor provides information on nominations for election
nominations statistics for local government election
Table 12: No. of candidates at Local Governme.
Municipal Councils SSS Urbar
- - - % of - Total Nomination Total NOmir S for Women for W
for Women
1987 641 22 3.4 984
1991 1152 44 3.8 1453
Source: Elections Department cited by De Silva (1995: 233).
However according to web-based reports more tha local government elections from a total of 25,523 r Independent Groups." Official or unofficial nom available at the time of conducting this study. If accurate, clearly there is a dramatic increase in nom in 2006.
13
 

Women in Local Government from 2006-2011
n came in through the youth quota.
ta in the Selected Five Districts 2011
o of Women % of Women Women elected from
youth quota
20.0%
O.0%
33.3%
O.0%
50.0%
28.6%
14
ne was to increase nominations for Women in the
heragala and Trincomalee this study sought to men by the four parties in 2006. While De Silva s held in 1987 and 1991 (see Table 12), official is held since 1991 was not available for this study.
nt elections of 1987 and 1991
Councils Pradeshiya Sabhas
nations % of Nomination % of
Nominations Total f Nominations
ՕրՈeր for women S TOI WΟ ΓΥη ΕΠ for women
31 3.1 71.98 133 1.8
40 2.7 13,385 325 2.4
in 4000 women did get nominations at the 2006 nominations given by 21 political parties and 275 inations statistics at the 2008 - 2011 were not the 2006 statistics as reported in the media are inations for Women from 2.5% in 1991 to 18.5%
0060330094.003521&mode=print, and Daily News, 8 .asp

Page 26
|CES Working Paper Series
Table 13: Nominations for women at local g
Year Total No of N
candidates
1987 8853
1991 15990
1997 Not available
2002 Not available
2006 25,523 2011 Not available
Source: 1987 and 1991 statistics: Elections Departm
This is consistent with a 2009 study which parliamentary and provincial Council elections ar of parliamentary and provincial COuncil election parties and independent groups that prolifer representation and not from the major political p the case in local government? The pattern at lo scrutiny of nomination papers filed by the UPFA part of this study reveals wide variations in nom
as the local authority.
Nominations for women disaggregated by p Based on the study of nomination papers filed b of Badulla, Galle, Kurunegala, Moneragala,and District level nominations for Women ranged bei
nominations for women ranged between 1.4% to
In 2006, at the individual local authority level it ranged from zero to 100% (although the latter St.
In 2006, nominations of women by the UPFA
Moneragala to a low of 3.2% in Galle, while in , low of 1.9% in Kurunegala. As an average, UPF 2006 to 3.4% in 2011. Nominations for Women b Moneragala in 2006 and a high of 15.3% in T average number of nominations recorded a very
15. In parliamentary elections, from 1994 to 2004, the perc 16 Please note that statistical tables of nominations at indivi

overnment elections 1987 - 2006
lo. of Women 9% of women
186 2.1%
409 2.5%
Not available Not available
Not available Not available
4739 18.56
Not available Not available
ent cited by De Silva (1995:233)
reveals that nominations for Women at recent e on the increase (Kodikara 2009). Yet in the case is this increase was mainly due to smaller political ated following the introduction of proportional arties which win the majority of seats. Was this also cal levels appears to be the same, except that the , UNP, JVP, and ITAK in the five districts done as inations depending On the party, the district as well
party, district and individual councils y UPFA, UNP, JVP and ITAK in the five districts
Trincomallee in 2006 and 2011, in 2006 at the tween 1.4% to 26.2%. In 2011, at the District level
16.59/6.
ranged from zero percent to 68.7% and in 2011 it
atistic is of course one exception to the rule)."
in the five districts ranged from a high of 5.7% in 2011 it ranged from a high of 5.2% in Badulla to a A nominations for Women decreased from 4.1% in by the UNP ranged from 6.3% in Badulla to 1.4% in Trincomalee to 1.4% in Moneragala in 2011. The slight increase from 4.2% in 2006 to 4.8% in 2011.
entage of female candidates more than doubled. dual local authorities are not included here.
14

Page 27
In the case of the JVP, nominations for women 1 4.1% in Kurunegala in 2006 and a high of 14.6% 2011. The average number of nominations given t Nominations for women by ITAK, which only cc districts, increased from 9.7% to 16.5%.
The most dramatic increase in nominations at the district, which increased nominations given to WO JVP doubled its nominations to women in Moneras increased nominations of women from 9.7% in decrease in nominations was by the JVP in Trinc 14.6% in 2011 (see tables 14 and 15).
Table 14: Nominations for Women: 2006 Local
*UPFA UNIP
Total Norn in % Troia || Nomin no of ations : no of ations nomin for Nomin for ations WIOS ations women - Badulla 284 12 4.2% 284 18
Galle 307 10 3.2% 327 15
Kurunegala 427 15 3.5% 439 17 Moneragala 138 8 5.7% 138 2
TrinCOmalee 117 6 5.1% 117 3
Total is is as
Source: compiled by author from nomination lists filed at the
Table 15: Nominations for Women: 2011 Local
UPFA UNP
Total Nomin || || % Total Nomin no of ations no of ations nomin for Nomin for
ations WONTE ations WOT
r
Badulla 286 15 5.2 286 9
Galle 327 | 12 3.7 327 14
Kurunegala 454 1.9 454 17 Moneragala 138 3.7 138 2 TrincOmalee 157 3.2 157 24
Total 1362 46 3.4% 1362 66
15

Women in Local Government from 2006-2011
ranged from a high of 26.2% in Trincomalee to
in Trincomalee to a low of 4.2% in Badulla in
O women increased slightly from 6.3% to 7.5%.
Dntested in Trincomalee Out of the five selected
: District level was by the UNP in Trincomalee men from 2.5% in 2006 to 15.3% in 2011. The gala from 4.3% in 2006 to 8.7% 2011. ITAKalso
2006 to 16.5% in 2011. The most significant Comalee where nominations fell from 26.2% to
Government Elections
JVP TAK
Total Norimin % Total Nomin % no of ations no of ations nomir for nomin for
altions e s ations Ge 6.3% 284 13 4.5% - -
4.5% 327 17 5.5% - -
3.8% 439 18 4.1% - -
1.4% 138 6 4.3% - - - 2.5% 103 27 2%; 133 13 9.7%
O
4.2% 1291 81 6.3% 133 13 9.7% Department of Elections
Government Elections
JVP TAK
% Total Nöfnin % Total Nomi % no of lations no of natio nomin for nomin ns for ations WONG ations wome
3.1 286 12 4.2
4.3 327 23 7.0
3.7 454. 32 7.0
1.4 138 12 8.7
15.3 157 23 14.6 109 18 16.5
4.8% 1362 102 7.5% 109 18 16.5%

Page 28
|CESWorking Paper Series
There were however, wide variations in nomin authorities. In 2006, the JVP gave the highest nominations given to women in the list for Tri went to the UNP, which fielded an all woman that both in 2006 and 2011 there was at least
Trincomalee District.
It is also significant to note that amongst the five proportion of women nominees amongst the I appears, at least to some extent, to have to do wi
men, to play a prominent public role given the CO
Other instances where women secured more th credited to the JVP nomination lists in Goma Seruwila PS (24.9%), Trinco town and Grav Mawathagama PS (23.59%), Ambalangoda PS (2 women in Kinniya UC.
In 2011, party lists which had more than 2 Thambalagamuwa PS, Padavis ripura PS and Tr Kinniya UC (222%) and the ITAK lists in Morav
The highest nominations given to women by t Welivita Divitura PS in Galle and 16.67% in Sorau
Nominations under the youth quota In 1990, a 40% quota for youth candidates —def was made mandatory in nomination lists for requirement meant that the list would be reje representation for women has always been to wh There are no studies on the gendered impact of til of this study, ICES attempted to ascertain how m youth quota in the five selected districts.
In 2006, of the total number of nominations g percentage of women nominees by party was: 2.9 and 13,7% by ITAK. At the district level, the JVF under the youth quota given to women in TrincC youth quota across all five districts were as follo

ations for Women at the level of individual local
number of nominations to women with 68.7% incomalee Urban Council. In 2011, this distinction ist for Verugal Pradeshiya Sabha. It is noteworthy one woman in every list fielded by ITAK in the
: selected districts, Trincomalee records the highest TAK, JVP and the UNP in 2006 and 2011. This th the relative hesitation of men, especially younger inflict.
han 20% of the nominations in 2006 have to be urankadawela PS (33,3%), Kuliyapitiya PS (25%), ets PS (24,9%), Thambalagamuva PS (24,9%), 20%). ITAK also gave 22.2% of its nomination to
0% of women were as follows: JVP lists in inco Town and Gravets PS (33.3%); UNP list in vewa PS (41.67%) and Kinniya UC (22.2%).
he UPFA across the five districts was 18.18% in
natOta PS in Badulla.
ined as those between the age of 18 and 35 yearslocal authority elections. Non-fulfillment of this !cted. A question for those working to increase at extent the youth quota benefited young women. he youth quota. On representation. However, as part
any young women obtained nominations under the
ven to youth across all five selected districts, the % for UPFA, 7.0% by the UNP; 8.9% by the JVP, had the best record with 40.5% of its nominations malee. In 2011, nominations for Women under the vs. 4.8% by the UPFA, 5.5% by the UNP, 13.95%
16

Page 29
by the JVP and 22.2% by ITAK. At the district lev
who gave 26.1% of nominations to women.
Of the total number of Women elected in the fiv nominations under the youth quota in 2006 and 201
Ethnicity of women nominated With reference to ethnicity, the majority of wom UNP and JVP in the five districts were Sinhala, wit The UNP gave nominations to fifteen Tamil wom Trincomalee. (see Tables 16 – 23). In Verugal PS, women, all Tamil. All the Women who obtained
Tamil.
Table 16: Nominations for Women by the UPF
UPFA Nominations 琵
Total Nomina Sinhala 96 no of tions for total
nomina || Women tions
Badulla 284 12 4.2% 11 91.6%
Galle 307 1O 3.2% 10 100%
Kurunegala 427 15 3.5% 14 93.3%
Moneragala 138 8 5.7% 8 100%
TrinCOmalee 117 6 5.1% 5 83.3%
1273 51 4.1 48 87.3%
Table 17: Nominations by the UPFA 2011
UPFA Nominations Eth
Total Norn in % of Sinhala 96 Tami no of ations total nomi | for natio || Women
TS
Badulla 286 15 5.2% 12 80%
Galle 327 12 3.7% 12 100% C
Kurunegala 454 9 1.9% 9 100% C
Moneragala 138 5 3.7% 100 5عه% C
TrinCOmalee 157 5 3.2% 4. 80% 1
1362 46 3.4% 42 91.3% 4.
17

Women in Local Government from 2006-2011
el, the best nominations record was with the JVP
e selected districts, more than half had secured
1.
en who obtained nominations from the UPFA, h the exception of UNP in Trincomalee District. len (62.5%) and four Muslim women (16.6%) in the UNP fielded an all women list comprising 9
nominations from ITAK in Trincomalee Were
A 2006
hnicity Youth Quota
% Muslim % Total No foi % of 真sa寮 youth WOne youth of total Quota գuota nomina
tions for
other
1. 8.4% O 0.0% 113 5 4.4% 41.6%
O 0.0% O 0.0% 124 5 4.0% 50.0%
1. 6.7% O O.0% 17O 5 2.9% 33.3%
O 0.0% O 0.0% 55 2 3.6% 25.0%
O 0.0% 1 16.7% 50 3 6.0% 50.0%
2 3.6% 1. 1.8% 512 20 2.9% 39.2%
inicity Youth Quota
% Muslim % Total No of % of As a % youth young youth of total
Quot || women || quota || nominat a. ions for
Women
3. 20% O O% 115 9 7.8% 60.0%
) O% O O% 131 8 6.1% 66.7%
) 0% O 0% 177 4. 2.2% 44.4%
) O% O O% 55 3 5.4% 60.0%
20% O O% 65 2 3.1% 40.0%
O 0% 543 26 4.8% 56.5%
8.7%

Page 30
|CES Working Paper Series
Table 18: Nominations for Women by the UI
* UNIP Nominations
Total Nominati, 9% Sinhala 菁
no of ons for
nomina || Women
tions
Badulla 284 18 6.3% 14 77.7%
Galle 327 15 4.5% 15 100%
Kurunegala 439 17 3.8% 17 100%
Moneragala 138 2 1.4% 2 100%
Trincomalee 117 3 2.5% 3 100%
1305 55 4.21 51 92.7%
Table 19: Nominations for Women by the UN
* UNP Nominations
Total no Nomina || % Sinhala %
of tions
nominati for
OS Wome
Badulla 286 9 3.1 9 100%
Galle 327 14 4.3 14 100%
Kurunegala 454 17 3.7 17 100%
Moneragala 138 2 1.4 2 100%
TrinCOmalee 157 24 15.3 5 20.8%
1362 66 4.8 47 71.2%
Table 20: Nominations by the JVP 2006
JVP Nominations
Total Nominati % Sinhala %
no of ons for
nomin WOTAT
ations
Badulla 284 13 4.5% 11 84.6%
Galle 327 17 5.5% 16 94.1%
Kurunegala 439 18 4.1% 18 100%
Moneragala 138 6 4.3% 6 100%
TrinCOmalee 103 27 26.2% 27 100%
1291 81. 6.3% 78 96.3%
 

NP 2006
Ethnicity Youth Quota
mi % Muslim % Total No of % of As a % of
youth Wote youth total Quota quota nominati
ons for
ΜΙΟΥ ΕΠ
4. 22.3% O O.0% 116 12 9.5% 66.6%
O O.0% O 0.0% 130 11 8.4% 73.3%
O O.0% O 0.0% 175 10 5.7% 58.8%
O O.0% O O.0% 55 1. 1.8% 50.0%
O O.0% O O.0% 50 3. 6.0% 100%
4. 7.3% O O% 527 37 7.0% 67.3%
NP 2011.
Ethnicity Youth Quota
Tamil Musi % Total No foi % of As a %
youth ΜΙΟΠΠΕΤ1 youth of Quota գuota total
nomin ations for
WOTE
n
O O% O O% 115 O O.0% O.0%
O O% O O% 131 9 6.9% 64.3%
O O% O O% 177 10 5.6% 58.8%
O O% O O% 55 1. 1.8% 50.0%
15 62.5% 4. 16.6% 65 10 15.4% 41.7%
15 22.7% 4. 6.1% 543 30 5.5% 45.4%
Ethnicity Youth Quota
% Musi % Total No foi % of As a % youth WONG youth of total Quota գuota nominat ions for
WOTTET
2 15.4% O O.0% 116 11 9.4% 84.6%
O O.0% 1. O.9% 130 8 6.1% 47.0%
O O.0% O O.0% 175 7 4.0% 38.8%
O O.0% O O.O% 55 3 5.4% 50%
O O.0% O O.0% 42 17 40.5% 62.9%
2 2.5% 1. 1.2 518 46 8.9% 56.8%
18

Page 31
Table 21: Nominations by the JVP 2011
Nominations
Total Nomin || % Sinhala % ra no of ations nomin for
ations WONG
Badulla 286 12 4.2 12 100%
Galle 327 23 7.0 23 100%
Kurunegala 454 32 7.0 32 100%
Moneragala 138 12 8.7 11 91.7%
TrinCOmalee 157 23 14.6 22 95.6
1362 102 7.5 100 98.2
Table 22: Nominations by ITAK 2006
Nominations
TAK
Total Norim || % Sinhala % Tali no of ations nomin
altions None
Badulla - - - -
Galle - - - - -
Kurunegala - - - -
Moneragala - - - - -
TrinCOmalee 133 13 9.7% O 0.0%
Table 23: Nominations by ITAK2011
Nominations
TAK
Total no Nomin || % Sinhala % Tal of ations nominatio for
ins ΥΝΟΙΤΙΘ.
Badulla - - - -
Galle - - - - -
Kurunegala - - - -
Monaragala - - -
TrinCOmalee 109 18 16.5% O O%
19
 

Women in Local Government from 2006-2011
Ethnicity Youth Quota
mi % Musi % Total || No fo || % of || As a %
youth WOTT youth of Quota զuota total
nomin ations for
Wone
O O% O O% 115 9 7.8% 75.0%
O O% O O% 131 16 12.2% 69.6%
O O% O O% 177 24 13.5% 75.0%
1. 8.3% O O% 55 10 18.2% 83.3%
O O 1. 4.4% 65 17 26.1% 73.9%
1. 0.9 1. 0.9 543 76 13.9% 74.5%
Ethnicity Youth Quota
mi % Musi Total No foi % of 轟sa鄂%
youth VAJOS youth 6) Quota 彗 quota total
nomin ations for
worne
籍
13 100% O 0.0% 51 7 13.7% 53.8%
Ethnicity Youth Quota
DLSSL SL L LLLL aLS LL S TS LL SLLLSL LLLLSS S SY S LSLSSASSATS
youth Woe youth of Quota quota total
nomin ations for
WOTE
18 100% O O% 45 10 22.2% 58.8%

Page 32
|CESWorking Paper Series
4. Converting Nominations into S In PR systems with preferential Voting as pra representation becomes the burden of individua notes that even when women do get nominations into elected seats. A comparative analysis of not women of the two major parties in Sri Lanka att reveal that there are differences in electoral perfo candidates of the UPFA and UNP doing wi nominations into representation. Underlying thi support and mentoring given to women candidat
of women candidates in running an election camp
In 2006, the UPFA gave nominations to 1222 me 51 nominations to women, 8 got elected. i.e. 15 whom 295 got elected. i.e. 23.8%. Of the 54 wom
In 2011, the UPFA gave nominations to 1316 m gave nominations to 46 women of whom 11 got 1296 men of whom 284 or 21.9% got elected. Th got elected i.e. 3.03%.
Table 24: 2006 Nominations and Representa districts
Political Party No of No of m UPFA nominations for elected
Then
Badulla 272
Galle 297 Kurunegala 412 Moneragala 130 TrinCOmalee 111
1222

seats
cticed in Sri Lanka Converting nominations into Il candidates within the party list. This study also they find it more difficult to translate nominations minations and representation statistics of men and he 2006 and 2008/9/11 local government elections rmance of male and female Candidates with female orse than their male counterparts in translating is disparity in success rates is a lack of adequate
es from political parties, and the lack of experience
}aign.
'n of whom 344 got elected. i.e. 28.1%. And Of the .6%. The UNP gave 1238 nominations to men of
en who got nominations 5 got elected. i.e. 10.5%
len of whom 631 got elected. i.e. 47.9%. They also
elected i.e. 23.9%. The UNP gave nominations to
ley also gave nominations to 66 women of whom 2
tion of men and Women (UPFA) in the 5
@龔 Number of No of Women
nominations for elected
WONTEM
72 12 2
90 1O 2
114 15 1.
44 8 1.
24 6 2
344 51. 8
2O

Page 33
Table 25: 2006 Nominations and Representatio
districts
Political Party No of nominations No of m UNP for men elected
Badulla 271
Galle 312 Kurunegala 409 Moneragala 132 TrinCOmalee 114
1238
Table 26: 2011 Nominations for and Represent
districts
Political Party UPFA
No of nominations for
ne
No of men elected
Badulla 271
Galle 315 Kurunegala 445 Moneragala 133 TrinCOmalee 152
1316
Table 27: 2011 Nominations for and Represent
districts
Political Party UNP
No of nominations for
TET
No of men elected
Badulla 277
Galle 313
Kurunegala 437
Moneragala 136
TrinCOmalee 133
1296
21

Women in Local Government from 2006-2011
in of Men and Women (UNP) in the 5
e No of Women
elected
61
69
116
25
24
295
tation of men and Women (UPFA) in the 5
Number of No of Women nominations for elected
WOTE 蠶 s 113 15 4.
161 12 1.
212 9 3
75 5 O
70 5 3
631 46 11
ation of Men and Women (UNP) in the 5
No of Women elected
62
71
106
26
19
284

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|CES Working Paper Series
Table 28: 2006 Nominations to Represental
Political Total No of No of % Party nominations | men
for men elected UPFA 1222 344 28.
UNP 1238 295 23.
Table 29: 2011 Nominations to Representat
Political Total No of No of % Party nominations | men
for men elected UPFA 1316 631 47.
UNP 1296 284 21.
These statistics point to the fact that even thou Success rate of Women winning seats was higher from the party with the winning streak clearly parties. Nevertheless, the number of women fro women elected decreased in 2011 (see Table Candidates were not as successful as the UPFA
in 2006, the total number of women elected
above).
The uneven success rate of men and women fr
however, confirm that women candidates face a
after receiving nominations.
5. Conclusions
This comparative analysis of 2006 and 2008-2C women's representation has increased marginal While the majority of women elected to local g the percentage of women can be attributed to th (more than double the number elected in 2006 North and some parts of the East after a gap continue to be under represented, with Muslim \
to local government. The total number of Musl 2006 to three Women in 2011.
 

tion ratio in the 5 districts
Number of No of % nominations Women for Women elected
1% 51 8 15.6%
8% 54 5 10.8%
5 districts
ion ratio in the
Number of % nominations for women | 9% 46 11 23.9%
9% 66 2 3.0%
gh the UPFA gave less nominations to women, the - than the UNP. Thus women candidates contesting
have an edge Over women candidates from other m the UPFA as a percentage of the total number of 7 above). Furthermore, even though UNP women women candidates or as compared to UNP women from the UNP in 2011 in fact increased (Table 6
om the same party reflected in the statistics above,
dditional barriers at the level of running a campaign
)11 local government elections point to the fact that ly from 1.8% in 2006 to just over 2.0% in 2011. overnment continue to be Sinhalese, the increase in he election of a substantial number of Tamil women 5) into local government following elections in the of more than 15 years. Muslim women however women comprising only 3.26% of all women elected
lim women however increased from One woman in

Page 35
Representation is however not uniform across the C the gendered geography of representation at local down by district, the highest percentage of women followed by Colombo which has 5.08%.
The highest number of elected women both in 200 there is a slight decrease in this percentage from 20 competition to contest from the UPFA given the U of nominations given to women by the UPFA. In co increased even though the UNP most likely lost its s
On the issue of nominations for women, despite
average percentage of nominations for women by districts under study, remained below 20% - the pet manifestos. While nominations for women by the U a tendency to nominate women for the sake of nom in areas where the party was weak. Nevertheless, in the UPFA or were disinclined to contest from the p the potential to win, who otherwise may not have g were able to convert to a seat. The study also r nominations to women from the minority commut
nominations into seats.
The highest number of nominations for Women frd Trincomalee in both 2006 and 2011.
This study appears to confirm that women do face a seats given the lower success rate of women candid also indicates that the ability of women candidates t the popularity of their Own party at elections and context unless the party On a winning wicket gives a increased nominations for women by other parties point to the need for a mandatory quota for wome
in local government is to be increased beyond 2%.
As noted at the outset of this study, the lack of C disaggregated by sex posed a considerable challenge is a need to work towards increasing nominatio
23

Women in Local Government from 2006-2011
listricts. In fact there are significant variations in level. Once representation statistics are broken in local councils is in Mullaitivu district (5.55%)
6 and 2008-2011 are from the UPFA, although 06 to 2011. This can be attributed to the intense PFA's enduring popularity and the low number ontrast, the percentage of women from the UNP
hare of Overall seats in local government.
commitments made in election manifestos, the the two major parties in Sri Lanka in the five "centage that has been promised in their election NP did record an increase from 2006, there was inating, without any potential to win, particularly a context where many UNPers crossed Over to arty given their losing streak, Some women with got nominations did get nominations which they 2veals that the UNP was not averse to giving nities, even though they were unable to convert
om the five districts were given by the ITAK in
dditional barrier in converting nominations in to lates as compared to male candidates. The study O convert nominations into seats will depend on therefore outside their own control. In such a
substantial number of nominations for women, will not have the same impact. These findings n in nominations lists if women's representation
fficial nominations and representation statistics : in compiling these statistics. As much as there
nS for and representation of women in local

Page 36
|CES Working Paper Series
government, there is also a need to demand disaggregated data is collected as a matter of rout
References:
Department of Elections 2006 Local Authoritic
preferences) for all Districts.
Department of Elections website. http://www.sl
EPDP elected uncontested in Puthukudiyiruppu
http://www.telo.org/February 2006.htm
Evertzen Annette 2001 Local Government, Governa,
Organisation, April 2001/
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25

Women in Local Government from 2006-2011
f Sri Lanka, Extraordinary No. 1433/22, 22""
f Sri Lanka, Extraordinary No. 1433/38, 22"
f Sri Lanka, Extraordinary No. 1433/44, 22"
f Sri Lanka, Extraordinary No. 1433/39, 22"
f Sri Lanka, Extraordinary No. 1433/43, 22"

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This study of the 2006 and 2008-2011 local au number of Women elected to local authorities 2008, 2009 and 2011 elections disaggregated of the country. Secondly, it compares the nun and 2011 elections by the four major political United National Party (UNP), Janathe Vimuk Kachchi (ITAK) -disaggregated by ethnicity, i. eragala and Trincomalee. This study aims to statistics with a view to identifying and analy nominations for Women at local government ir gated data on nominations, the Study fills a Crit official election data-gathering framework frol as part of the Changing Minds: Nominations a the Women and Media Collective and the Intel with five other women's organisations.
Chulani Kodikara is a Senior Researcher at th
This Study Was Supported by:
() UN N2 WOMEN
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
 

thorities elections held in Sri Lanka, compares the following the 2006 elections with figures from the by district, party and ethnicity across all 25 districts hber of nominations given to women at the 2006 parties-United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), chi Peramuna (JVP), and the Illankai Tamil Arasu n the districts of Badulla, Galle, Kurunegala, Monunmask and disaggregate national averages and sing patterns and trends in representation of and Sri Lanka. In the absence of official sex disaggreical gap while emphasizing the need to review the m a gender perspective. The study was conducted nd Votes for Women Programme implemented by national Centre for Ethnic Studies in collaboration
e International Centre for Ethnic Studies.
This study was conducted as part of:
ආකල්පමය වෙනසක් UGTis807 OPJ58 Changing Minds
essLT TssTT sT T SLLL LLLL LL LLL LLLLL YTTTTTTTTT LLLTTTT LLLTTT
කාණ්ඩ හා ඕධ්‍ය සමූහිත්‍ය • ස්ටාංගික අධ්‍යාය සඳහාවූ ස්ක්‍යයෝග්‍යෂ්ඤය பெண்கள் மற்றும் ஊடக கூட்டமைப்பு இனத்துவகற்கைகளுக்கான சர்வதேசநிலையம் Women and Media Collective International Center for Ethnic Studies
Printed by Karunaratne & Sons (Pvt) Ltd.
ISBN 978-955-58O1-29-4
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