Minister made these comments participating in a workshop recently organized by Eksath Lak Vanitha Peramuna in collaboration with Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA).

She further stated that though Sri Lanka announce itself to be the country with highest literary rates in the South Asia region and a country with lowest maternal and infant mortality rates, the female participation in politics and decision making remains at a very low level.

"Women are rarely appreciated in our country. Though I hold a ministerial position in a government which holds power, since I am a woman I feel like a secondary citizen.

I am engaged in a battle to increase the female participation in parliament not up to 25% but to 30%.The women's voice should be more strongly raised within the parliament", she added.