Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in the policy and research forum titled ‘Unlocking the Gender Dividend: Driving Policy Change Through Knowledge’, hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sri Lanka in Colombo on Wednesday (27).
At the event, four landmark reports were presented to the Prime Minister, providing policymakers, researchers, and civil society with critical evidence and policy recommendations to address persistent gender inequalities and emerging challenges in Sri Lanka, while promoting a more inclusive and equitable society.
Delivering the keynote address, the Prime Minister said, “Every woman and girl must be able to live with dignity, to be safe, and to contribute fully to the life of our country. When that is true, the whole nation moves.”
She also drew attention to the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women, noting that enabling women to balance employment and caregiving responsibilities is essential for national progress.
The forum was attended by UNFPA Sri Lanka Representative Kunle Adeniyi, Members of Parliament, and Women and Child Affairs Ministry Secretary Dr. Nalint Abeysinghe.