A Parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka, led by Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, M.P., Minister of Women and Child Affairs, participated in the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) held from 5th to 12th October 2025 in Bridgetown, Barbados, under the theme “The Commonwealth – A Global Partner.”
The Conference, organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), brought together over 500 parliamentarians and parliamentary officials from across the Commonwealth to exchange views on strengthening democratic governance, promoting inclusivity and transparency, and fostering international cooperation among member legislatures.
The Sri Lankan delegation comprised Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, M.P., Minister of Women and Child Affairs; Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, M.P., Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation; Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva, M.P., Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) Asia Regional Champion; Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law, M.P.; Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy, M.P.; Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P.; and Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of Parliament and Regional Secretary to the CPA Asia Region.
Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, made a significant contribution to the Conference through her active participation in the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) programme. She served as a lead speaker at the workshop on “Debate Not Hate: Not Accepting Abuse as an Outcome of Free Speech” and took part in the CWP Steering Committee, representing the CPA Asia Region as an Alternate Member. Hon. Paulraj also addressed the CWP and CPwD Joint Workshop on “Overcoming the Barriers to the Involvement of Women with Disabilities in Politics,” where she shared insights on empowering women with disabilities to actively engage in political life. Most importantly, Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj delivered an address at the General Assembly debate, representing Sri Lanka and reaffirming the nation’s steadfast commitment to democracy, inclusivity, and gender-responsive governance. Furthermore, she chaired the Regional Executive Committee Meeting of the CPA Asia Region, alongside Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of Parliament and Regional Secretary to the CPA Asia Region, which focused on strengthening regional cooperation among member parliaments.
In addition, Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj and the Sri Lankan delegation held a bilateral meeting with Hon. Christopher de Souza, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore, on the sidelines of the Conference. The discussion focused on expanding cooperation between Sri Lanka and Singapore in the field of tourism, with particular emphasis on developing the homestay tourism sector in Sri Lanka. Both parties agreed on the importance of enhancing parliamentary and people-to-people engagement between the two countries to support tourism promotion and sustainable economic development.
Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva, M.P., in his capacity as CPwD Asia Regional Champion, represented Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) sessions, contributing to discussions on promoting inclusivity, accessibility, and the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in political life.
Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of Parliament, attended the Conference in her official capacity as the Regional Secretary of the CPA Asia Region. She participated in the CPA Regional Secretaries Meeting and other administrative sessions aimed at enhancing inter-regional collaboration and institutional development within member parliaments.
The Sri Lankan delegation actively participated in the workshops and conference sessions, engaging in constructive dialogue and knowledge sharing on governance, inclusion, and sustainable development, with the objective of applying these insights for the benefit of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary and national advancement.
The 68th CPC also featured a series of high-level plenary workshops and side events on global themes such as strengthening democratic institutions, leveraging digital transformation for governance, promoting financial transparency in parliaments and elections, and addressing climate change as a global health challenge.
The participation of the Sri Lanka delegation underscores the nation’s continued commitment to the principles and values of the Commonwealth and its proactive engagement in promoting democracy, good governance, gender equality, and inclusivity across the global parliamentary community.
