Civil society sector was under attack from the previous Govt when they were assisting those in need - Kiran

Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Sashi Kiran revealed in Parliament that the civil society sector was under attack from the previous Government, even though they were doing their best to provide relief and care to the communities in need.

While responding to the President’s opening speech, Kiran says she comes from the NGO sector, and she has more than two decades of experience working with rural communities and vulnerable families to provide them with social, economic and health empowerment opportunities.

She hopes with the experience she has, she can work with every sector and agency to achieve the Ministry’s goals and targets.

The Assistant Minister says she never thought of surviving in Government machinery and bureaucracy because her plan was for a FRIEND board member to be part of Parliament, and they would raise their issues to him.

However, she says that the political persecution of leaders and people who have committed their lives to this nation forced her to change course.

Kiran says the many issues impacting our most vulnerable people had to be brought to a national level.

She says during the pandemic, she worked extensively with the Commissioner Western’s Office to get resources to those affected both by the pandemic as well as various natural disasters.

She further says they worked across their networks with civil society organisations and faith-based groups. The Minister adds in those difficult days, they tried to support the Ministry of Health, even while the Government attacked and belittled them.