Some facts I found interesting when I looked at the women who have been given Cabinet/State/Deputy Ministries. Certainly some patterns here for us to think about who gets elected and what they have in common.
The list used as reference is this list published by the Daily Mirror
Cabinet Ministers
Women & Children - Chandrani Bandara: Daughter of the late Chandra Bandara who was a District Minister, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Public Administration and Minister of Power and Energy (Reference)
Foreign Employment - Thalatha Athokarala: sister of the late Gamini Atukorale, Former Minister and leader of the UNP who's death was deemed 'suspicious' (Reference)
State Ministers
Children's Affairs - Vijayakala Maheswaran: widow of T. Maheswaran, a MP who its is said was assassinated by EPDP in January 2008 (Reference)
Water Supply - Sudharshini Fernandopulle: widow of Jeyaraj Fernadopulle Minister of Highways & Road Development who was killed by a suicide bomber in the 2008 Weliveriya bombing attributed to the LTTE (Reference)
Deputy Ministers
Petroleum - Anoma Gamage: Wife of the current Minister for Primary Industries Daya Gamage (Reference)
Sustainable Development & Wildlife - Sumedha Jayasena: she entered politics after her husband Sumedha B. Jayasena was killed the day after he submitted his nominations to contest in Monaragala in 1989 (Reference)