Women and Media Collective condemns personal attacks on Prime Minister

22-Jan-2026

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The Women and Media Collective has strongly condemned the gender-based and personal attacks directed at Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, warning that such conduct fuels political violence and cannot be considered legitimate freedom of expression.

In a statement criticizing recent attacks made on social media, in press conferences, and on public platforms, the Collective expressed concern that a minor error in a Grade Six English textbook had been exaggerated into a major controversy and used to target the Prime Minister personally rather than constructively critique governance.

The organization noted that women in politics face disproportionate levels of abuse, reflecting deep-rooted gender inequality and a toxic political culture. It also criticized the failure of political and media actors to curb such harmful behavior.

The Collective emphasized that there is no place in a democratic society for personal harassment or gender-based humiliation and warned that applying double standards to women’s leadership undermines democratic values.