Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne and Member of Parliament Rishad Bathiudeen took part in the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, from 5 to 9 October.
Addressing the main session, Dr. Wickramaratne said public trust and inclusive opportunities are the basis of sustainable democracy. He told delegates the 10th Parliament has 22 women members, or 9.8 percent of seats, including two MPs from the up-country community.
He also said an MP with a disability sits in Parliament for the first time. That MP was recently named “2026 Distinguished New Parliamentarian” by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Dr. Wickramaratne cited oversight bodies such as the Committee on Public Accounts and the Committee on Public Enterprises, and open-parliament steps such as broadcasting debates with sign language translation and opening committee proceedings to the media and civil society.
On the sidelines, the delegation met World Health Organization (WHO) representatives, including Ludy Suryantoro, to discuss health security and the Universal Health Preparedness Review.
