A great volume of work such as creation of self-employment and granting credit facilities etc. is being contemplated. She said that sexual harassment and other forms of harassments are meted out to the women even while delivering services by the state officials in these areas. Further, she explained that a programme to uplift the mental health of the women and children affected by the war has been initiated by the National Reconciliation Bureau. ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION The Round Table discussion-2017 was initiated and conducted by Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and following ladies presented their achievements, challenges and problems pertaining to their respective fields which were taken up for discussion. 1. Ms.Roshini Weerasinghe – Apparel Sector ( Katunayaka) 2. Ms.K.T.Somalatha - Uva Welllasa Women’s Organization – Agricultural Sector (Monaragala) 3. Ms.Maria Jeyadas Lakshmi- Palmirah and Coir related productions ( Batticaloa) 4. Ms.M.P.Chandrani- representing Hambantota Kantha Maha Sangamaya – Implementing procedure of micro- finance system. 5. Ms.Ananthi Devendra Kumari - representing estate sector and house-maids(Nuwara Eliya) 1. Ms.K.T.Somalatha –( Agricultural Sector) She was the first to air her views initiating the round table discussion. She stated that Wellassa Women’s Organization was formed, parallel to the problems of Wellassa Sugar cane cultivators, for the purpose of educating the women in the area on legal, economic and political rights and make them active in this exercise. She is functioning as an active member of this Organization. She stated that those women who are engaged in farming activities are side-lined within the current social system. For example, women engaged in farming activities receive step-motherly treatment in government offices, police stations and even when seeking school- admissions for their children. However, over 75% of contribution towards agricultural sector is made by these parties in their capacity as informal small-scale food producers. Women are side-lined when awards are made in the agricultural sector and their labour contribution is not appreciated. A large quantum of work is performed daily by them and she emphasized that economic contribution of such women is not taken into consideration at any moment when relevant statistics are compiled. She further stated women have to compete with males in procuring plot of lands for tradestalls in the agricultural sector and more opportunities exist for the males in this exercise. Further, women are deprived of the chance of bidding and bargaining by the males and 5 5