The Gender Gap Narrows
Charitha Ratwatte
Yet, there are issues to be addressed
The World Economic Forum (WEF), which organises the iconic Economic Summit at Davos, Switzerland, annually and other regional economic summits worldwide, has recently published the 2012 Gender Gap Report, for the eighth consecutive year.
The report indicates that in most countries the gender gap decreased slightly in 2012. In the three sectors of Political Participation, Education and Health and Economic Equality, the Nordic countries of Iceland, Finland and Norway come out tops out of 136 nations included in the survey. These countries had closed over 80% of the gender gap, with 100% representing full equality.
Yemen was at the bottom of the list, while in that region, North Africa and the Middle East were the only regions which did not show any improvement. Developing countries of Philippines and Nicaragua were within the top 10 places. Iceland, as the world’s most equal nation, has made a record of winning top place for the fourth consecutive year.
Siri Ranasinghe’s Appeal To Politicians Stop Communal Politics
By Latheef Farook -November 5, 2013
Latheef Farook
Lashing out at politicians for the present state of affairs in the country veteran Sinhala journalist Siri Ranasinghe urged them to abandon their short sighted and destructive communal and racist politics and help save the country.
Known for his moderate views Siri Ranasinghe lamented that, despite different races, religions, languages and cultures a minority member could become a president or prime minister in India. However he lamented that this is not even a distant dream in Sri Lanka due to communal and racist politics.
The occasion was the launching of a book on the biography of former Speaker of National State Assembly Deshamanya Mohamed Bakeer Markar under the title “Weda Gedera Viplavaya” ( Doctors’ House Revolution) at Sri Lankan Foundation on 29 October 2013.
Invitees included politicians from both the government and the opposition. They were all seated in the front row. In a scathing attack and indictment on them the unassuming Ranasinghe boldy told “the home truths” stating how they ruined this country with their selfish politics.
The largely attended function was also addressed by Senior Minister and Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva, Registrar of the Siyam Nikaya Ven Kotapitiye Rahula Thera and former education minister Karunasena Kodituwakku. They all rejected in one voice communal and racist politics highlighting that the overall system need to be overhauled to place the country in a footing if we are to move and.
It was music to the ears of the audience which rejected communal politics which divided and virtually destroyed this country. Read More
