India, Sri Lanka share deep civilisational ties: LS Speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said India and Sri Lanka share deep civilisational, cultural and spiritual ties that continue to strengthen friendly relations between the two countries.

Interacting with the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka at Parliament House, Birla said the shared Buddhist heritage of India and Sri Lanka had served as a strong foundation for bilateral ties over centuries. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs in the Sri Lankan government.

Birla noted regular dialogue and parliamentary exchanges between the two countries had given fresh momentum to India–Sri Lanka inter-parliamentary relations. Recalling his recent interaction with a Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation led by SM Marikkar, Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Issues, he expressed satisfaction over the growing engagement between lawmakers of both nations.

Highlighting the increasing role of women in India’s democratic and governance framework, Birla said the country had moved from the concept of “women’s development” to “women-led development”.

He said the first legislation passed in the new Parliament building was the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Calling it a historic reform, he said the law would enable women to play a more decisive role in legislative processes.

The Lok Sabha Speaker also underlined the role of women in grassroots governance, noting that several states have implemented 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies. Over 1.4 million elected women representatives are currently serving in panchayats and urban local bodies across the country, he added.

Birla further highlighted the contribution of self-help groups (SHGs) and schemes such as the Lakhpati Didi initiative in promoting women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, particularly in rural India.

Speaking on the occasion, Paulraj thanked Birla for the hospitality extended to the delegation and said the visit offered valuable insights into India’s initiatives on women-led entrepreneurship, SHGs and digital commerce. She also expressed gratitude to the Indian government for supporting Sri Lanka during difficult periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.